Dental Phobia and Overcoming Anxiety | Try Our North Lincoln, NE Dentists

Do you have a Dental Phobia?

We Can Help!

We know that having a phobia or fear of anything, including the dentist, can make daily life a challenge. At Northstar Dental, we take your dental phobia seriously. Your oral health is our top priority. In our article, we’ll cover:

-Dr. Kathryn Alderman’s Message to Anxious Patients

-What Northstar Dental Has to Offer Those With A Dental Phobia

-Our Promise To You

A message from Dr. Kathryn Alderman to anxious patients:

As a young woman, I had a life experience that inspired my career in dentistry. This experience created a passion for providing dental care in a kind and gentle manner. I once suffered extensive dental trauma and had to complete a lot of dental treatment. At the time, I was very scared of any dental work, so every appointment was very intimidating for me. I had always wanted to be a medical doctor, but after experiencing exceptional dental care, decided that dentistry was a field where I could make a positive difference working with nervous and scared patients like myself. In the end, I decided to become a dentist. My goal since then has been to make a positive impact by providing gentle dentistry to anxious patients and to help them improve their overall health by first improving their dental health.

I am aware that having a dental phobia is a very real and serious condition that affects many people. Dental phobia can cause a person to stop visiting the dentist altogether. As a result, their oral health suffers greatly.

We want patients to know they won’t be shamed or embarrassed if it’s been a while. We simply want to help keep their health in check.

Dr. Alderman talking to patient about dental phobia

Putting of routine dental visits leads to serious consequences. These consequences include gum disease, lost teeth, and infection, to name a few. When you see the dentist for regular cleanings, they not only clean your teeth, but they check for future problems. In turn, these check-ups keep your dental costs down before problems get worse and more expensive. What’s more is that dental infections have a negative impact on your overall health, since everything you eat has to pass through your mouth. These infections lead to systematic inflammation and weaken overall health, if not treated.

Recently, dentistry has made leaps and bounds in techniques to make patients comfortable. Our office utilizes something called sedation dentistry to help patients overcome their dental phobia. As an exceptional team of gentle family dentists in Lincoln, NE, we can even help you enjoy your time here!

Patients with dental anxiety often feel embarrassed about their condition. I tell patients that this is a very common condition, and there are several reasons why people are phobic about visiting the dentist. It may be something as simple as the clinical smell of a dental practice that puts people off or a previous bad experience that has scarred an individual for life. Below are a few reasons that may explain why you are phobic about visiting the dentist. Rest assured that you are not alone, there are millions of people that suffer from dental phobia. Most importantly, you should never feel embarrassed about any degree of your dental anxiety.

What do we offer to patients with a dental phobia?

The Northstar Zen Room

Our brand new Zen Room offers patients a relaxing space to have dental work done! If you’re nervous, embarrassed, or downright scared to see the dentist, this room is for you. You can learn more about our Zen Room here.

Sedation Dentistry: Asking patients to communicate their fears and concerns

I am a good listener, and that can go a long way towards relieving your dental phobia. Be sure to share your fears and concerns with me openly and comfortably. You’ll find that my team and I are very sympathetic towards your concerns and anxieties.

Offering a full explanation of the procedures involved

Explaining how the process will be carried out step by step often helps to alleviate fears, or giving you the opportunity to ask questions will relieve that fear of the unknown. I will explain everything in a non-technical, easy-to-understand language.

Asking patients not be embarrassed

Our office is an embarrassment-free zone. Even if you feel embarrassed or concerned about the state of your teeth, you can share your concerns and fears with me. The most important thing is that you are taking a step in the right direction, and I’m glad to help you become a healthier you.

Offering relaxation and distraction techniques

I offer distraction and relaxation techniques such as relaxing music, movies, TV, and scented candles to mask any clinical smells. We also offer a form of a sedation dentistry, if you have trouble overcoming your dental phobia.

Using a gentle injection technique

Before giving an injection, I will apply a numbing gel (topical anesthetic) to your gums. I will give the injection slowly, which will reduce the pressure and discomfort. I will talk to you while giving the injection to distract you from the anxiety of having an injection and to make sure you do not have discomfort.

Patient using the dental phobia remedy, sedation dentistry

Conclusion

There may be one or several reasons for your dental phobia, but the first step you can take in overcoming your dental anxiety is to recognize it. Know there are compassionate, caring, sensitive, and friendly family dentists like myself that want to help you.

My team and I take great pride in helping nervous patients with a dental phobia and dental anxiety. We’ll take the time to understand your concerns, so we can help you and meet your dental needs. When a patient comes in with a dental phobia, it brings us joy to help them overcome their fear and become a more confident patient at every dental visit!

We promise to ensure comfortable dental treatment for our patients. We hope to see you soon at our embarrassment-free office.

Wishing you happiness and health,
Dr. Kathryn Alderman

Are you searching “Who’s the most highly rated dentist near me?”

We can not claim we are the “the most highly rated dentist” as there are many top rated dentists in this world. Finding the top rated dentist does not mean anything unless you feel comfortable in your dentist’s care.

At our Lincoln, NE dental clinic we work hard to make your dental experience comfortable every time. We hope you feel confident enough to choose our dental clinic as your dental office for any of your family’s dental needs. See some of our dental clinic reviews here.

The information on this page was written by Dr. Kathryn Alderman.

This gentle Lincoln, NE dentists says: “Dental anxiety or dental phobia, affects millions of people across the United States. If you’re one of them, you should know that you aren’t alone. There’s no need to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid when you’re with us. We’ve helped several patients in the past through their dental anxiety, and we’re happy to help you, too. Dr. Kathryn Alderman, dentist for dental anxiety in Lincoln, NE, has worked with thousands of patients suffering from dental anxiety in Lincoln and surrounding communities. Throughout the process, she’s helped patients overcome their fears.”

You can schedule with this Lincoln, NE dentist, or her partners, online 24/7 at her North Lincoln Location of Nebraska Family Dentistry. This “dentist near me” serves the local communities close to Northstar Dental in Waverly, Davey, Raymond, Garland, Ceresco, Greenwood, and Malcom.