I Have Debilitating Dental Anxiety. Here's What I Do To Combat It.

"I am one of 73% of adults who have dental anxiety, and I'm not just talking about a bit of dread when the text reminder hits about an upcoming visit, or an I-should-have-flossed-more-before-my-appointment kind of anxiety. I'm talking about the debilitating, can't-catch-my-breath, you-need-to-tie-me-down-to-the-chair-before-I-bolt kind of dental anxiety."

"Back when I was a kid, I had several dental experiences that were less than stellar. It wasn't always physically painful, but the amount of judgment and shame I experienced (even though genetics just meant my dental health kind of sucks) stuck with me all the way into adulthood. Over the past few years, the anxiety grew and grew until something happened that I just couldn't ignore anymore."

"Honestly, as much as it pains me to say this, my dental fear and anxiety has been so debilitating that it took me several years to get back into the dentist chair. But, after experiencing an incredibly painful dental emergency, I had no choice but to finally get my ass back into the office. Of course, it couldn't have simply been a cavity or gum irritation. No, it was the stuff of dental horror stories: I needed a root canal."

"What I'm here to argue is the fact that I, along with many other adults in the world, have this extreme dental anxiety, and we don't talk about it enough. Some people might think, eh, it's just the dentist - and that's true. But the thing about dental anxiety (or really any anxiety) is that it doesn't usually speak in a rational language. I hated feeling like there was something so wrong with me because I just couldn't bring myself to do the thing."

Severe dental anxiety affects many adults and can be intense enough to feel physically overwhelming. Childhood dental experiences can create lasting judgment and shame even when pain is not the main factor. Anxiety can grow over years until a painful emergency forces a return to dental care. A root canal may be required after an emergency, showing how avoidance can lead to more serious treatment needs. Dental anxiety often does not follow rational reasoning, making it difficult to act despite knowing care is necessary. When scheduling an appointment, honesty about anxiety helps set expectations and supports getting treatment despite fear.

Read at Scary Mommy