Overcoming Your Fear of the Dentist

Do you know what FEAR stands for? False Evidence Appearing Real. Lakefront Family Dentistry has the most gentle, kind staff and dentist in the Inland Empire. F.E.A.R. is in our minds, and there are steps everyone can take to overcome what we “think” is real–but isn’t.

Patients Can Overcome Dental Anxiety for All of These Procedures Dr. Hauser Offers

• CEREC Crowns
• Dental Porcelain Crowns
• Porcelain Veneers
• Dental Bridge
• White Tooth Fillings
• Teeth Whitening
• Root Canal
• Gum Disease
• Teeth Cleaning
• Periodontal Disease Treatment
• Dental Implants
• Tooth Extraction
• Invisalign

Although the practices and techniques used in dentistry have changed greatly throughout the past decades, there are still many people that battle with the all too familiar fear of the dentist. While dentistry isn’t designed to cause pain and often makes use of some of the most effective anesthetic treatments available, dental anxiety continues to be a common issue among 20% of patients.

Sometimes a fear of the dentist can be more easily conquered when patients are in a more comfortable environment. At Lakefront Family Dentistry, our staff is dedicated to ensuring that every patient is provided with the utmost care and fully relaxed prior to treatment.

Dr. Hauser purchased the top-of-the line A-dec professional chairs for patient comfort. Cool USC pillows and blankets are also available while you relax in an upscale environment with music hand-picked by the doctor.

Just give us a call at (951) 244-9495 to schedule an appointment and discover why our patients are extremely comfortable and don’t have any dental anxiety.

Why is Dental Anxiety a Problem?

The common misconception that most people have is that their dental anxiety doesn’t truly interfere with their lives other than preventing another trip to the dentist’s office. However, when these individuals finally do sit down for a procedure, the presence of dental anxiety can make it more difficult to provide a stress-less, pain-free experience.

When someone is anxious, it causes the blood flow in their body to increase substantially in correlation with other physical and mental reactions. This increase in blood flow can make it more difficult for the local anesthesia to last a prolonged period of time during treatment, which may result in the patient needing additional local anesthesia more frequently.

Individuals that learn to let go of their dental anxiety don’t have to deal with these interruptions during treatment Patients who are not tense or worried about the procedure prior to their visit and upon arrival have great results with the local anesthetic administered because it lasts throughout the treatment without need for additional anesthetic.

How to Conquer Dental Anxiety

Everyone manages their dental anxiety in different ways. What works well for one individual may not work the same for another, but thankfully, there are a variety of ways to approach dental anxiety and make it easier to conquer that fear of the dentist. One of the most common and effective options can be found in the use of breathing exercises.
Tips to Reduce Anxiety Prior to Your Dental Visit

Deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises and focused attention can be used to help make feelings of anxiety dissipate.

Breathing slowly and deeply will introduce more oxygen and other helpful chemicals into the body, which can aid in relaxing the central nervous system.

Options such as guided imagery in which the patient imagines more pleasant scenarios may also be helpful. Some people find that their fear of the dentist fades away as they learn more about the different techniques and options that can be used during treatment to prevent a painful experience.

If you’re concerned about dental anxiety, contact us at (951) 244-9495 to speak with our staff. We’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns to help ease your mind!