I love being a dentist. I love the opportunities my profession provides me to help people look better, be healthier, and get out of pain. I get to work with good people. I rarely have to sit at a desk in front of a computer. I get to work with my hands in field that incorporates art, science, business, interpersonal relationships, and a variety of other studies. No two days are alike and I never feel bored. The hours are good and I feel well compensated for all of the time, effort, schooling, and debt I’ve put into being a dentist. There’s just one problem: people are scared to death of me and avoid me like they avoid public speaking or the bird flu.
In the tradition of my favorite late night talk show host, I’d like to present . . .
The Top 10 Reasons People are Scared of Coming to the Dentist:
10. Pop Culture. Television and movies have not been kind to dentists. If you are familiar with this, this, or this, I bet these scenes cross your mind every time you cross the threshold of a dental office. Pop culture hates me and is out to make me look like a barbarian.
9. Past Memories. Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. Ask any Baby Boomer about their childhood dental office and they’ll tell you horror stories of ungloved hands, gigantic drills, stern and uncaring personalities, scary hospital environments, and abundant tears. Even though today’s dental scene is significantly more kind and inviting, old memories, especially bad ones, die hard.
8. Smells and Sounds. My wife remarks nearly every day when I come home to hug her “go change, you smell like a dental office.” Although I’ve grown almost completely desensitized to that antiseptic/fluoride/dead tooth smell, I definitely remember it distinctly from the days when I came to the office solely as a patient. Additionally, who can hear the high pitched whine of a dental handpiece and feel completely at ease (besides dentists, of course)? It’s been determined through several studies that sounds and smells, trigger memories better than other senses, so if any of those memories are unpleasant, they can be a real deterrent to visiting the dentist.
7. The Flossing Lecture. Dental visits can be stressful and embarrassing enough without hygienists and dentists piling on with their lectures on hygiene. When I was in high school, I left a Provo dentist for this very reason. I still have bad memories of his doom and gloom outlook toward my teeth (which were always pretty good, by the way) and his apparent desire to appear smart in front of me. The traditional authority model of “I’m the doctor and you’re just a patient; do what I say” is not pleasant to endure.
6. The Time Requirement. Almost everyone will agree that regular checkups and visits for treatment are important, but why must it be so inconvenient to schedule? Most dental offices are only open during normal business hours—basically when you are at work or school. Vacation time is sometimes hard to take for fun things, let alone for something you really don’t enjoy doing. Then there’s the issue of waiting; how frustrating is it when you call hoping for an appointment next week and all that’s available is a slot two months away?
5. The Cost of Dental Care. Spending time on something you’d rather not do is one thing, but even more frustrating to some is spending money on an unpleasant experience. Dentistry, like any type of health care, is not cheap.
4. The Value of Dental Care. Cost and value are different concepts. Yes dental treatment can be expensive, but to anyone who values good health, aesthetics, and the ability to eat a steak, it is a great value. Many do not place such a premium on dental care, or simply do not value it at all. I learned this lesson early while in dental school in Louisville, Kentucky when patients in their 20’s asked me to pull all their teeth because “my dad had dentures, my grandpa had dentures, and I just want to get rid of these teeth so I can get my dentures”. Unfortunately, some patients only come around when they are in severe pain; one by one, teeth are pulled and dentures are the ultimate result. In most of these cases, valuation of dental health is the issue.
3. The Uphill Battle. “Another cavity! I just had three at my last checkup six months ago. I promise I’ve been brushing and flossing.” Unfortunately some individuals seem to be very susceptible to dental decay in spite of modest preventive efforts. Most of these individuals need almost perfect hygiene and diet modification to stay cavity-free but, unfortunately, many are not willing to put forth that kind of effort (or don’t understand what is needed). Hygiene habits are hard to break and the result can seem like an unwinnable fight.
2. Pain. If you’ve ever had a painful emergency situation, you’re well aware that a dentist can be your best friend, but for anyone else, going to the dentist = pain. In spite of using very effective anesthetics, some teeth can be “hot” (resistant to numbing medicine) and what is enough anesthetic to tranquilize one individual might be the equivalent of a throat lozenge for another. Even though we strive to avoid it, there is sometimes pain involved in dental care. And to be perfectly honest, it’s probably not even the pain that’s the worst part, it’s the anticipation of pain.
1. The Needle. By far the scariest instrument in a dentist’s arsenal (yes, even more than “the iron hook”) is the dental syringe. The needle has probably warded off more dental treatment than all the above items combined. And what do dentists call it? “Just a little pinch.” What follows the needle is probably even better. Who doesn’t love that nice numb feeling that persists hours after treatment is complete?
From my perspective as a dental patient I can identify and agree with most of the items on this list. I fully understand that coming to see a dentist isn’t your favorite thing in the world. There is some fear and anxiety involved. Fortunately, most people are able to deal with the small or moderate amount of anxiety that comes with the experience, but for those with a true dental phobia or strong aversion to one or more items on my list, the experience can be truly horrifying. At Barry Family Dental, we strive to make each patient comfortable and minimize the discomfort and anxiety you may feel. In spite of how dentistry was in the past or how it is viewed in cinema and television, an experience at our office is much more comfortable than you may think it would be. Compassion, understanding, and kindness are ideals that we strive to live each day, with each patient that comes through our door. With iPods and headphones, free nitrous oxide (laughing gas to help patients relax), and use of the latest dental technologies and techniques, we attempt to minimize the sounds, smells, and discomfort of dental treatment and make your visit as quick and relaxing as possible. We are providers with most dental insurances and offer various payment options to help our patients obtain treatment. Although we are busy, we have extended business hours (open until 6:00 on some days and open almost every Saturday) to help accommodate your schedule and will always make time if you are need urgent care. We hope you value dental treatment and will do our best to answer questions and provide education in a non-condescending manner where it is needed. If you or someone you know is apprehensive about dental treatment, we’d love to help. Dentists really aren’t as bad as you think we are.
Nicolas K. Young, DMD
