Fear of the dentist is not weakness and not a whim. For some people anxiety is tied to past pain, injections, sounds, a loss of control, or shame about the condition of their teeth.
How to make the first step easier
- book a short consult without promising to treat everything at once;
- tell the front desk and the dentist that you are anxious;
- agree on a hand stop signal;
- ask them to explain steps briefly in advance;
- prepare a question list and medication list so you are not recalling them in the chair.
When fear should not delay care
Severe pain, swelling, pus, fever, trauma, or not being able to open the mouth or swallow is not a wait-it-out situation. The dentist can discuss pain control and next steps.
Sources: NHS/NHS England, ADA. AIOral can help you prepare a list; it does not treat an anxiety disorder.