While fear can be a healthy reaction to a dangerous situation, a phobia is something entirely different.
According to The American Psychological Association, phobias are more irrational than fears. They're also very powerful. In fact, a phobia can become so severe that it causes you to avoid certain situations all together, even situations that are beneficial, such as going to the dentist. Phobias are usually directed toward one activity or object, like being in enclosed spaces or encountering spiders, and roughly 19 million people in America struggle with them.
So, if you feel an overwhelming dread when someone mentions the dentist, you're far from alone. You may be suffering from a dental phobia, or at least with dental anxiety. Fortunately, there are things you can do to lessen this overwhelming fear of entering the dentist's office, and at Liberty Family Dentistry, in Bloomington, we're ready to help.
How Liberty Family Dentistry Can Ease Your Dental Anxiety
A bright, spacious waiting room, tons of warm, natural light, and a friendly and professional team all work together to make your first visit to Liberty Family Dentistry a calming experience. As soon as you enter the building, you'll feel welcomed by our staff. Smiles and light-hearted conversation are sometimes all that's needed to help you feel you've arrived at a good place. But if your anxiety continues, please tell us. After years of experience and training in providing excellence in customer service, there are things we can do to help you feel more at ease.
Keeping Patient Comfort in Mind
All we ask is that you talk to us and let us know if you feel anxious. Talking through your fears is a great way to minimize their potency. And then there is always the power of soft, relaxing music, or the distraction of television. We have both options on-hand for patient comfort. We also offer nitrous oxide and sedation dentistry for many procedures.
However, by simply walking through our door, you've taken an empowering leap all on your own. You may find it getting easier and easier to sit through your appointments, once you've taken that first, most difficult step. Overcoming fear of dentistry is something we can do together, and feeling empowered is vital.
Respecting Your Boundaries
For patients who struggle with a dental phobia, we recommend starting small. Book an initial consultation, where you can talk with one of our clinicians and share your dental goals. At this appointment, we'd like to learn more about you. This will give us the opportunity to devise a strategy to help you feel more at ease during your upcoming appointments. We pride ourselves on being a top-tier dentist in Bloomington, and we'll do all we can to meet you halfway. The initial consultation is an important beginning.
Offering Sedation Dentistry
One of the best ways we may be able to help you overcome your fear of visiting the dentist is through sedation dentistry. If you choose sedation for your procedure, you can rest assured that our team is always standing closely by to ensure everything goes well. You won't feel anything during your procedure. In fact, you'll sleep right through it, waking only when it's over, and it's time to go home.
It usually takes time for the sedation to wear off, and you must bring a friend or family member to drive you home after your appointment. But for many patients who suffer from dental anxiety, sedation is a wonderful option that takes the fear and worry out of going to the dentist.
Rewarding Success
We also recommend rewarding yourself for a job well done. This means doing something nice for yourself after the completion of your dental appointment. Maybe meeting a friend for coffee or strolling through a nearby park before returning to work is just what's needed to redirect negative thoughts. If you're able to associate a trip to the dentist with positive experiences, your phobia may begin to lose its power over you.
Focusing on Healthy Habits
Another way of overcoming fear of dentistry is to make and keep regular appointments with your dentist in Bloomington. As your visits become more routine, they become less scary. You may find it's easier each time. And if you schedule your next appointment right in our office as you finish with the current checkup, there's no intimidating phone call to make. You can also use our convenient online option to book your next dental appointment.
Reach Out to Liberty Family Dentistry in Bloomington
If you need the services of a top-notch Bloomington Dentist, we encourage you to contact Liberty Family Dentistry today. At Liberty Family Dentistry, we understand dental phobia. Simply reach out to us and make that first connection, and we'll guide you forward from there. We're a full-service, family-oriented dental practice, serving Bloomington, IN, and the surrounding areas with pride. Our patients love us because of our professionalism and our dedication to exceeding expectations, and we think you'll feel that same satisfaction.
At Liberty Family Dentistry, there's nothing to fear and only a bright, beautiful smile to gain. Schedule your consultation today.