Top Five Myths About Your Dentist: Busted
Many people consider the dentist to be a lot like the boogey man: greatly feared and avoided at all costs. But if we look closely at the reasons why people are anxious about visiting the dentist, and often procrastinate making an appointment, we discover that their fears are based on myths and misunderstandings about what the actual experience will be like. In reality, a trip to the dentist is much more pleasant than we sometimes imagine, once we learn about the realities of modern dentistry and the new technologies that are available to your dentist.
As many as 12% of Americans are anxious about visiting their dentist, and according to the Surgeon General’s office, 4.3% of people in the U.S. are so nervous about going that they just skip it completely. So, if you’ve ever felt anxious about making a dental appointment, you’re not alone. Throughout time, people have fabricated and passed on myths about dentistry as a way to justify their uncertainties and anxieties. But just as we no longer believe the medieval German myth that kissing a donkey to cure a toothache, there are plenty of modern dental myths that need to be debunked, so that you can get the dental care you need to keep your teeth and gums healthy. That’s why we’ve set out to bust the top five myths about your dentist.
Myth #5: As long as my teeth look and feel okay, I don’t need to go to the dentist.
Many people think that the only time they need to visit the dentist is when they’re in extreme pain or visibly see something wrong with their teeth. The reality is that you aren’t always able to tell what’s happening with your teeth and gums by look and feel alone, and there may be the beginnings of bigger issues taking place without you knowing. By going for periodic examinations, your dentist can carefully clean and closely examine your teeth and gums to help prevent dental problems down the road, especially with advances such as digital x-rays, intraoral cameras and lazar dentistry. If you do need treatment, it’s much easier and less painful to address the issue early on, and you may be able to avoid a future problem all together.
Myth #4: Root canal therapy is painful.
Root canals therapy is one of the most dreaded dental procedures, but in reality is not the painful, horrible experience that many people imagine it to be. Root canals are typically performed because a tooth is causing pain from an irreversible condition, such as an infected pulp, broken teeth, or a slowly dying nerve. Rather than cause pain, root canal therapy is used to alleviate pain. The perception that root canal therapy is painful stems from old treatment methods that are no longer used, and because often people who need root canal therapy are already in pain and they incorrectly believe any procedure will cause more pain. Modern procedures and technologies can make root canal therapy a relatively fast and painless process.
Myth #3: A toothache means I have a cavity.
Many people put off going to the dentist when they feel pain or discomfort in their mouth fearing that the dentist will discover a major problem. While sometimes a toothache can be caused by a cavity or early decay, but not necessarily. Toothaches can also be associated with your bite, grinding, a chip or crack, a fracture or nerve problems. By making an appointment at the first signs of pain or discomfort, your dentist can accurately assess the source of your concern and take preventative steps to alleviate pain or future issues. Often there are quick and simple remedies that your dentist can prescribe to help you avoid pain in the future.
Myth #2: Dental implants are painful and not really necessary.
If you’ve lost teeth due to injury, age or a prior dental procedure, you may be considering dental implants, yet be wary of what the experience will be like or if it’s even needed. The development of dental implants is one the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years, and recent advances have made the procedure even easier, less invasive and as pain-free as possible. Dental implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function just like natural teeth, without the need for uncomfortable dentures or bridges. Replacing missing teeth is essential to maintaining the bone in the jaw. The longer a tooth is missing the more bone is lost in that site, which is why a tooth should be replaced very soon after it is lost.
Myth #1: The dentist will attack my mouth with huge drills and needles.
From cartoons to movies, the image of a drill and needle-wielding dentist has intimidated kids and adults for years. When in reality, advances in dental technologies have minimized any discomfort or invasiveness associated with dental drills and needles, and in some cases eliminated the need for them entirely. Oral sedation dentistry enables dental care providers to safely and effectively treat a patient without needles and allow them to still consciously respond to the dentist. Air-abrasion is a tremendous advancement over older dental drills, allowing precise cleaning or removal of decayed teeth without the discomfort or noise of a drill or the need for a local anesthetic.
Learn more about myths and truths about your dentist and how advancements in modern dentistry have made the trip to the dentist a much more pleasant experience with Dr. Dental.
