Dental fear and anxiety has been studied since the 1960s. The health of your teeth can affect the overall health of your body so it is an important issue. Those that fear the dentist may skip appointments, or simply never go to the dentist at all. But why do certain people fear the dentist? According to research it can be one of several reasons. Some fears are irrational, but when it comes to dentistry there is nothing irrational about it. Dental treatments can cause pain, more so in the past than in the present. The three major reasons it is believed that children fear the dentist are:
Anticipation: It makes sense that when a child considers a stranger putting scary looking tools into their mouth they may anticipate pain and suffering which can cause fear and anxiety.
Experience: If a child experienced pain while at the dentist, or an unpleasant attitude from their dentist it can initiate distrust, fear, and anxiety.
Learned Fear: Strong evidence has indicated that the level of a mother’s dental fear and anxiety indicate whether or not a child will react negatively to a dental visit. It is a major indicator especially for children who have never visited the dentist before.
Because one of the major factors that children have dental anxiety is due to the anxiety of a parent, you can help your child avoid developing dental anxiety with your attitude.
Dr. Peddicord offers a complete range of preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dental procedures as well as high quality dental prosthetics. Dr. Peddicord can answer your inquiries, and provide the services you need to maintain the health, beauty, and function of your teeth. To schedule an appointment at Peddicord Family Dentistry, please contact us at 515-963-3339.
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