Teens might not have a lot in common with adults, but they do seem to share one thing: a fear of dentists. Indeed, dental drills and needles strike terror into hearts both young and old. Not surprisingly, a study that was recently published in the European Journal of Oral Sciences found that adolescents who are afraid of dentists tended to harbor negative perceptions of dental staff attending to them:

The main purpose of this study was to explore whether subjective perception of interaction with dental staff is associated with dental fear in a population-based sample of 18-yr-old adolescents (n = 773)… Adolescents with high dental fear more often perceived their interaction with dental staff negatively and more often felt insecure than others. This difference persisted after adjustment for gender and SOC

[sense of coherence]. In conclusion, adolescents with high dental fear may perceive their interaction with dental staff more positively if the staff succeed in creating a positive, trusting, approving, and supportive atmosphere with kindness, calmness, and patience. The communication and interaction skills of dental staff may play a particularly important role when encountering highly fearful dental patients.

Dental Fear Affects Adolescent Perception of Interaction With Dental Staff

As the finding demonstrates, fear can be the root of a vicious cycle: if teens are already afraid of the dentist, they have a tendency to dislike the dental staff, and this negative attitude may discourage them from going to succeeding appointments. This, in turn, will prevent existing dental issues from being treated, leading to oral health concerns that might haunt teenagers into adulthood.

Fortunately, there are Greenwood dental practices which understand that some teens are more apprehensive than others, and, as such, strive to provide relaxing and pain-free treatments.

One such practice is Gillum Dentistry, which offers what they call the “Maximum Comfort Anesthetic Technique.” Before starting any procedure, clients are first given a fast-acting anesthetic that relaxes them. Afterwards, a second, deep-numbing anesthetic is administered so that patients feel little or nothing during treatments.

The dental office also offers amenities that help people relax as they wait for their turn on the dentist’s chair. These include free Wi-Fi, cable TV, headphones, blankets, and neck pillows, along with a selection of teas and coffees. Clients can also get a soothing hand paraffin treatment to further calm their nerves.

While teens would much rather hang out with friends than visit a dentist, they must remember that the teeth they have now are the teeth they’ll have for the rest of their lives. As such, they should not let any fear prevent them from getting dental treatments. If necessary, they can visit Greenwood family dentistry practitioners that tailor their services to accommodate anxious patients.

(Source: Dental fear affects adolescent perception of interaction with dental staff, European Journal of Oral Sciences, July 21, 2014)