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Do you have odontophobia? Do you know someone with odontophobia?
This is a fear of the dentist, and it is one of the most common fears in the United States. According to some experts as much as 75 percent of the population experiences some dental anxiety while between 9 and 20 percent of people afraid to set foot in a dentist office.
We promise that we don’t bite, and we will do everything we can to make your dental care as pain-free and worry-free as we can.
Still not convinced? We understand, but we also hope you will keep reading so you can learn how we help many patients with dental anxiety and dental fear receive the oral care that they need.
When you are finished reading, we invite you to visit any of the four Sunrise Dental locations in Durham, Raleigh, Cary, and Chapel Hill. Our dentists and our staff will be happy to meet you.
A Three-Step Approach
If you are afraid of the dentist, we encourage you to talk to your family and friends about it. You will probably find that many of them get nervous about going to the dentist, too. They may be able to share some of the ways they manage their anxiety.
Another good place to get tips on managing your fear is dentalfearcentral.org. This is a website created by people with dental anxiety for other people with dental anxiety.
They point out that it’s a good idea to understand the source of your fear.
Are you afraid of the drill? Are you afraid of needles?
Are you worried that dental care will hurt? Are you concerned that the dentist will lecture you if your teeth aren’t perfect?
Did you have a bad experience with another dentist?
Answering these questions may help you identify the source of your anxiety, which is helpful information to share with any dentist you may visit in the future.
Dentalfearcentral.org also recommends three steps to “tackle” your dental fear.
Step One: The Psychological Approach
The way a dental staff treats its patients is very important. Are you just a number, or are you an individual who deserves personal attention and care?
At Sunrise Dental, we promote a personal approach in an effort to provide our patients with the best experience we can offer. This starts when you call or visit one of our offices. We want you to feel welcome whether you are stopping in to say hi, getting a routine cleaning, or having another procedure. This is why we provide refreshments in our office.
We also want you to feel comfortable. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help you feel more cozy.
Step Two: Technology
This is important for us because we want to provide the best care that we can for you and all our patients. This includes incorporating the latest technology into what we do.
We have digital X-rays so we can see them faster. We have a cone beam CT scanner to generate three-dimensional images of your teeth and the surrounding structures.
We also use intraoral cameras to get a magnified look at your teeth. This allows us to find problems early, which means your treatment is less invasive and easier to handle.
Using technology in combination with the latest techniques allows us to provide dental care that is as pain-free as possible.
Step Three: Sedation Dentistry
Everyone is afraid of something, and for some people, it won’t matter how nice our staff is or what kind of technology we use. We are aware that some people need a little more help to sit down in a dentist’s chair.
This is where sedation dentistry comes into play. Dental sedation can help patients in a lot of ways.
If you are afraid that you might gag, sedation dentistry will keep you relaxed so that won’t be a concern.
If you are worried about feeling pain, dental sedation has an analgesic effect that prevents you from feeling anything during your procedure.
If you are bothered by the sounds of dental care, sedation dentistry can make it so you don’t remember anything about your treatment.
We offer three kinds of sedation dentistry — nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation. Whether you have moderate or severe anxiety, we believe we have an option that can help you.
Visit Us First
Before you do anything else we encourage you to visit one of our dentist offices in person. If you live near Durham, Raleigh, Cary, or Chapel Hill, just stop in to say hi. Introduce yourself and talk to our staff.
When you feel ready, then you can return for a cleaning and examination. We don’t want to rush you or pressure you. We want Sunrise Dental to be a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed.
If you have any questions, just call the office closest to you. We hope to hear from you.