I have a friend who battled depression for several years. She told me that, most days, she just wanted to “crawl into a hole.” However, what she shared as a frustrating part of having depression were well-meaning friends and relatives who would advise her, “You just need to get out and be with fun people.” or “Just focus on all your blessings.”
For people who struggle with depression, just ‘snapping out of it’ is not realistic. For people who have dental fears, expecting them to just ‘buckle down’ or ‘think happy thoughts in the chair’ is just as unrealistic.
As a dentist with a long history of helping once-fearful dental patients get past their fears, I know this can be a long, hard road for many. In conversations over the years, I truly understand how these deep-seated fears developed due to traumatic experiences in their past.
Dr. Ban Barbat – Dentist and author of “Guide For The Fearful Dental Patient”
Having dental fear or anxiety is (surprisingly, to many) not unusual. It is estimated that nearly 75 percent of Americans have felt some level of uneasiness associated with a dental visit at one time or another. About 5-10 percent of these individuals are classified as dental phobics. These people have such intense levels of fear that the mere thoughts of walking into a dental office triggers sweating, more rapid heartbeat, and even crying.
Not only do dental fears or anxiety prevent many people from achieving a healthy, confident smile, research now shows that their avoidance of dental visits can be putting their overall health at risk.
For decades, studies have delved into the connection between your oral health and how it affects the health of other areas of the body. This occurs primarily because the bacteria of periodontal (gum) disease can enter the bloodstream through tears in diseased tissues. It has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, some cancers, Alzheimers disease, preterm babies, arthritis, diabetes, erectile dysfunction (ED) and even impotency.
The health and appearance of your smile is obviously very important to your overall well-being. And, regardless of your level of dental ‘dread,’ I’d like to help you achieve good oral health and smiling confidence, beginning with an easy booklet. I’ve written:
Guide For The Fearful Dental Patient
as an aide for understanding these fears and ways to move past many of the obstacles that may be contributing to fear or anxiety.
If you like, you can download a condensed version of the Guide here: https://www.banrbarbatdds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Barbat-DentalFear-eBook.pdf
Or, we will be happy to mail you an extended version. Just call our office (586-739-2155) and provide your name and address to our friendly telephone staff.
For a moment, don’t think about going to a dental office. Close your eyes and imagine having a beautiful, healthy smile that you feel is your best feature. Imagine meeting new people and smiling at them with full confidence that they’re thinking, “Wow, what a great smile he/she has!”
Now, open your eyes and read “Guide For The Fearful Dental Patient.” You’ll be taking the first step to going from wishful thinking to living the dream!
Call 586-739-2155 if you’d like to begin with a free consultation. This takes place in a private Consultation room that is removed from the clinical side of the office. During this time, I’ll discuss what comfort options may work best for you (including oral or IV sedation) and answer your questions thoroughly.
