Healthy Habits: Dental Anxiety

Oral health is important for kids and adults alike, but many people - both children and adults - are worried about going to the dentist. I interviewed Dr. Steven Goldberg, DDS, about oral health and ways to overcome dental fear.

1)     What are some of the links between oral health and overall health?

There have been several studies that link gum disease to heart disease. Several theories suggest:

·       Oral bacteria can affect the heart by either entering the blood stream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation.

·       The inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque build-up, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries.

·       People with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.

2)     Why do some people put off dental care?

An estimated 50% of Americans admit to avoiding the dentist because of the heightened discomfort, noise, and occasional pain and blood. The drill can be scary sounding, especially to children; some people are afraid of needles, which is used to inject Novocain; and the discomfort and sensitivity of the gums during a dental injection can be reason enough someone won’t go visit the dentist.

3)     What are some ways to overcome dental fear? Are these tactics different for adults and children?

First, if you are afraid of the dentist, the first thing you should do is express to the dentist what your fears are. A good dentist will work with you to reassure you that there is nothing to fear.

Patients are desperately afraid that we are going to hurt them.  Many are so afraid of pain that they avoid going to the dentist altogether.  According to worlddental.org, studies coming out of the Dental Fears Research Clinic in Seattle, Washington, report that upwards of 40 million Americans avoid going to the dentist because of this fear. This is quite alarming when you consider the negative health effects directly related to poor oral health.

If you anesthetize your patients painlessly, you will be considered a painless dentist. After all, dentistry doesn’t hurt. A filling doesn’t hurt, an extraction doesn’t hurt, and even a root canal doesn’t hurt, because once your patient is anesthetized, you’re practicing painless dentistry. But if you hurt your patients during the injection process, you are no longer considered a painless dentist.

 

Thousands of dentists across the US are using the DentalVibe® Injection Comfort System, a brand new revolutionary device that is redefining the dental experience. DentalVibe uses revolutionary VibraPulse® technology to send soothing pulsations into the oral cavity during the injection process -- leaving patients with a painless and stress-free experience. DentalVibe uses “The Gate Control Theory of Pain” to BLOCK the sensation of pain to provide children with a painless experience (the theory states that vibrations travel much faster to the brain than the feeling of pain). Thousands of dentists across the nation use this innovative technology, and has begun reversing the fear of dentistry, visit by visit.

The device works for children and adults. It resembles an electronic toothbrush and for children, there are small animal finger puppets that go at the end fo the device, so children have something to focus on during the injection (even though they are not feeling the injection pain).

I also recommend patients bring in Ipods and items that will relax them before seeing the dentist. Do something that puts you or your child at ease before the appointment or in the waiting room. Studies have shown that managing stress levels during a dental visit include optimism on the part of the patient and an atmosphere of humor in a patient's interaction with the dental staff. Adopting a positive mindset can help with patients deal with their dental treatment.

Lastly, parents should try to make going to the dentist a positive experience. If parents associated dental visits with fear or pretend it is a punishment, children will view it negatively as well, before they ever get to the office. Treat a dentist visit as something for kids to look forward to (“the dentist is going to take care of your teeth and make sure they stay strong!) so they don’t associate the experience with fear or pain.

4)     What are some of the most important things parents can do to make sure their children (and themselves) maintain good oral health?

Apart from visiting the dentist routinely every six months for cleanings and check-ups, brush your teeth three times a day, and use floss and mouthwash every time. Sugar and acidic foods wear away at your enamel, so I would recommend toothpaste that strengthens enamel. Of course, drinking lots of water to stay hydrated.

Parents: Kids grow up thinking you know all and they absorb everything you instill in them. Constantly show your kids that you are maintaining a healthy oral routine, and they will be sure to follow!

Steven Goldberg, DDS, graduated from New York University’s College of Dentistry and has been in practice for more than two decades. In that time, Dr. Goldberg went on to build a successful general and cosmetic dental practice in Boca Raton, Fla., and invented the new DentalVibe Injection Comfort System.

Dr. Goldberg first recognized the challenges of the pain associated with dental injections during his years as a student at the NYU College of Dentistry. "My passion for the alleviation of injection discomfort began when I had to deliver my very first injection as a student," he remembers. "I had a patient in the clinic that was already in pain, and the first thing I had to do was to inflict additional pain on this person. That just really bothered me. I thought, 'There's got to be a better way to deliver an injection without pain.'"

He teamed up with senior engineers and designers at Bresslergroup in Philadelphia, Pa., to co-develop DentalVibe using Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall's "Gate Control Theory of Pain"; that is, redefining the injection process and changing the perception of dentistry worldwide. The theory states that vibrations travel much faster to the brain than the feeling of pain. Once vibrations have reached the brain, the “pain gate” is closed and patients won’t be able to feel the prick of the needle nor the injection pressure.