My Husband’s Afraid of the Dentist

September 1, 2018 1:28 am | Published by
I’ve been married for three years and my husband has never been to the dentist at that time. I schedule appointments and he finds some reason to cancel them. I am beginning to think he’s afraid of the dentist, though I’m sure he’d never admit to the fact. Is there anything which can help him? Olivia M. Dear Olivia,
Someone cowering behind a chair

There are dentists who Cater to Cowards

First, you should know your husband is definitely not alone in his avoidance of the dentist. Many patients would rather be anywhere but the dental chair. Fortunately, there are dentists who “cater to cowards”. Just be sure not to ever use that particular turn of phrase around your husband. I don’t know any man who’d like to be referred to as a coward. Most dental anxieties stem from bad experiences in childhood. Too many parents make the mistake of not taking their son or daughter to the dentist until they reach school age. By that time, there are usually cavities. Often, the child ends up having a dental emergency before then, which makes their first appointment a painful, traumatic one.

Solutions for Dental Anxiety

When we have patients with anxiety, the first thing we do is invite you on a tour of the facility so you’ll be familiar with your surroundings. We’re also diligent to reduce waiting times. Sitting in the waiting room does absolutely nothing but increase anxiety. Dentists who work with anxious patients know how important it is getting them in quickly. The next step is to find out what their concerns are. Often, knowing what scares them helps us prevent their fears from coming to fruition. We’re also careful to explain everything we’re doing from beginning to end. During the appointment, we offer all kinds of concierge services, such as massaging dental chairs as a way to make the experience a pleasure. However, for some, that’s not enough. Their fear is too palpable. For patients with that type of anxiety, we offer three levels of sedation. You can read about those in detail on our dental sedation page.

Saving Money at the Dentist’s

Many men have anxiety which more stems from the cost of dental care. If that’s your husband’s case, I have something which may help. Preventative care is significantly more cost friendly than reparative care. What I mean by that is coming in for regular cleanings costs a lot less than putting off your care until you need a root canal treatment and dental crown. Following that train of thought, the sooner you get seen the less it will cost you. a filling is cheaper than a root canal. A root canal is cheaper than a crown. A crown is cheaper than an extraction and replacement. Going to the dentist on a regular basis could save him thousands of dollars. This blog is brought to you by Portland Dentist Dr. Mo Saleh.
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