When it comes to dental visits, many people are afraid of things going wrong. Where’s the reassurance that all of their teeth are going to be ok? What if some unseen problem is discovered? The anxiety and panic are just as much about how they feel as it is about what they think could happen.

Not only that, but many people have a fear of the dentist altogether. They might have had bad experiences in the past or are just too nervous to go into an unknown situation where they can’t see what’s happening. However, a dentist in Fairfield, ME, can help alleviate fears and help cure dental anxiety by using different techniques, including sedation dentistry.

Here are some of the most common types of fears people have when visiting a dentist:

• Fear of embarrassment about the condition of teeth

The fear of embarrassment is one of the most common types of anxiety people have at the dentist’s office. In fact, it may be even greater than the fear of pain or physical damage. The anxiety many people experience in regard to their teeth being in a bad state is based on how they think others will react or how they will feel about themselves. 

• Fear of gagging

Gagging is a very common experience and is not at all unusual. In fact, it can happen in a relatively routine dental visit. You’re laying back, mouth open, and ready to receive the treatment that your dentist has ordered. This position can easily cause gagging in many people. Gagging is a physical reaction that’s not controlled by the brain but by nerves and muscles that work together to prevent choking or gagging on food.

• Fear of injections

Dental injections are a common part of dental care and can be used to treat dental diseases and conditions. They can also be used for other purposes, including sedation. The fear of needles is a very real phobia that can develop as a result of seeing needles.

• Fear of pain

Another very common fear is the fear of pain. It’s a normal reaction people have when they are faced with the prospect of visiting their dentist due to an emergency or a dental problem. They feel as if they are not going to be able to handle the pain and will be unable to cope.

• Fear of loss of control

Many people are afraid of the loss of control they will feel in a dental setting. They have an image in their mind of things that can go wrong, which creates anxiety and panic. This is why a lot of people do not like going to the dentist.