Biggest Fears and Myths About Seeing the Dentist

There are a lot of common myths and fears that people have about visiting the dentist. Most of these come from common folklore and from exaggerated tales of what patients have experienced. Fortunately, these myths are nowhere near the actual truth of the matter. For the majority of patients, a trip to the dentist is actually quite pleasant and nothing to get excited about. Here are some of the common myths and the truth about them.

A dentist will poke my gums and teeth with sharp objects

The dental tools that we use remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums. We operate these tools with great care and most patients never experience any discomfort during the appointment. While we will most likely have to use a pick to scrape off tartar, we will only do so for a couple of minutes at most and will not be irritating at all.

They will use a dental drill on my teeth

We only use dental drills when a patient has a significant amount of tooth decay that we need to remove in order to restore the tooth. The drill may sound alarming but it is actually not. Since we use the drill in such short bursts, the process is over quickly. Some dental offices have even replaced the dental drill with a dental laser.

My teeth are going to be pulled out unnecessarily

This is a big myth and completely false. A dentist will not automatically pull a tooth. On the contrary, a dentist will do whatever is possible to restore a tooth so that it can remain in the mouth. It is best for a person's health to maintain their natural teeth for as long as possible. Thus, dental professionals hope to protect the natural teeth through preventative dental care.

It is only necessary to see a dentist if a tooth hurts or is damaged

Many people make the mistake of thinking that they need to see the dentist if they have a toothache or a cracked or chipped tooth but it is unnecessary otherwise. This is far from the case. Dental care is preventative care. While a dental office is the right place to visit if there is a tooth problem, visiting before one develops is much wiser.

It is possible to prevent many common oral health problems through these regular appointments.

The appointment will be painful

Most people do not experience any pain when visiting the dentist. Routine teeth cleanings are non-invasive and will not cause any irritation at all. If a restoration needs to be completed, a dentist can use sedation in order to help a patient feel calm and remain comfortable. This makes modern dentistry an easy and convenient way to maintain oral health free from dental pain or irritation.