Why Do We Avoid The Dentist?

Sometimes it’s a lingering memory of a prior bad experience. Other times it’s fear of the noise. Whatever it is, it’s a fact we’re well aware of – some people completely avoid going to the dentist. At my Saint Louis dental office, we want to talk about some common reasons people avoid the dentist and how this avoidance is hurting you worse than any dental treatment possibly could.

Top Reasons We Avoid the Dentist

There are many reasons people avoid the dentist. One of the top reason is a legitimate phobia of the dentist. Fear of the dentist even has it’s own name, dentophobia, and can range from mild to severe. But the right dentist can really do a lot to ease your fear. You should always be comfortable talking with your dentist about your concerns and anxieties and find relief in their reassurances.

Another reason we tend to avoid the dentist is if we’ve had bad dental experience in the past. A common thought is that if it hurt once, it’s going to hurt again. Even though advancements have been made in dental technology to make treatments easy, comfortable, and virtually pain free, a bad memory can cause additional fear. Again, if this is the case, talk to your dental team about your fears and we’ll work with you to make sure you’re comfortable and that each procedure is done with gentleness and ease.

We’ve also heard patients at my Saint Louis dental office talk about their uneasiness with the noise of the drill and other tools. We understand that when you’re getting a cavity filled or professional cleanings done that the noise of the instruments can sounds extremely loud, especially when they’re in your mouth. But what’s important to know is that while they may sound scary, these tools are designed to make treatments easier and are actually helping to keep your treatment pain-free.

Why Avoiding the Dentist Can Be Bad for Your Health

We know that it’s nothing personal, and that you don’t dislike us as people, but it still concerns us that you’re not receiving the dental care you need if you avoid seeing your Saint Louis dentist regularly. Without regular dental cleanings and checkups, your mouth is a great place for bacteria to thrive, gum disease to develop, and even for oral cancer to lurk without you knowing it. Visiting the dentist can not only keep your mouth healthy, it can keep your body healthy too.

Many oral health problems like gum disease are linked to full-body issues such as heart disease, strokes, hard-to-control diabetes, and plenty of other pretty scary stuff. So if you’re avoiding the dentist, it’s not only your smile that’s suffering.

No matter the reason you haven’t come to my dental office in Saint Louis, please give us a call today. We’ll talk with you about your fears and we’ll make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way.

Serving patients in Saint Louis, Affton, and Webster Grove