Fear of needles

05/08/2022

Fear of needles

A phobia of needles or dental treatment is definitely no laughing matter. It can affect people of all ages and in some cases, develops into a serious issue that can affect a patient throughout their entire lives. In extreme cases, this fear can get in the way of living a normal life and not just during every dreaded dental appointment. It can impact many different aspects of a person’s lifestyle. Individuals with this affliction are likely to avoid most dental procedures, making it very difficult for even the most patient dental healthcare professionals to carry out their work on the patient. If it gets worse, a person with needle phobia may even delay, refuse, or completely give up going to the dentist to seek needed dental treatment. They run the risk of worsening dental problems and being in a lot of pain if this fear is not addressed first.

These days, dental health care professionals have considerable knowledge and understanding of this issue, and a number of alternatives have been applied and developed to make dental procedures easier, manageable, and less stressful for patients afflicted with needle phobia. If you think you or someone you care about suffers from needle phobia or dental phobia, it’s helpful to know the common signs that accompany this affliction to better understand and determine you or your loved one’s condition. Personal reactions can vary for each patient, but the most common sign is severe anxiety at the thought of injections and most dental procedures. Some individuals also experience involuntary reactions like dizziness, dry mouth, increased heart rate, palpitations, rapid breathing, and sweating. The best way to address this problem is to consult a dental healthcare professional. They can help you better understand your situation, work on alternatives for some aspects of dental procedures that you want to avoid as much as possible, and eventually, also work on helping you regain confidence and trust in dental treatments. These days, needles and injections are generally less painful than before due to technological advancements in the field of dental healthcare. At Oatlands Dental Lounge, we only use the finest techniques to help those overcome needle phobia.

Needle phobia is more common in children than in adults, so explaining the technicalities of the issue to a child would be more of a challenge and may not be enough to address the problem itself. It’s recommended to make the trip to the dentist as pleasant as possible for your child by applying some coping strategies and reaction techniques when needed. Talk it over with your dentist who may have suggestions and advice based on experience in dealing with children afraid of what the dentist does. You can start by bringing along a favourite toy, book, or any beloved item of your child when you go to the dentist. Hold your child’s hand as you reassure them that everything will be okay and tell them that the dentist is their friend who wants them to have strong, healthy teeth.