Statistics suggest that roughly 20 million Americans are terrified at the thought or sight of needles. Most dentists and their teams are sensitive to this fact, but it’s still a good idea to seek out Augusta area dentists who are particularly skilled in managing dental phobias of this type.

The fear of needles is a dental phobia known as belonephobia, literally meaning “fear of needles” in Greek. This dental phobia may also be related to other phobias such as aichmophobia (fear of pointed objects), algophobia (fear of pain), and trypanophobia (fear of injections). Together, any combination of dental phobias can make a simple dental visit almost unbearable.

Besides causing major stress and anxiety, the fear of needles prevents many patients from voluntarily seeking the necessary medical and dental care. Understanding the cause of your needle phobia and trying different coping mechanisms can be an important first step to getting top-quality professional dental care.

Recognizing the Fear of Needles

No one really loves needles, but a little anxiety isn’t the same as the feelings experienced by a true needle phobic. These symptoms typically indicate needle phobia:

• Fainting, sweating, nausea, and/or dizziness
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure or a sudden drop in blood pressure
• Difficulty sleeping prior to a dental appointment
• Feelings of extreme anxiety or panic

Dealing with Your Fear of Needles

Understanding the true cause of your needle fear will help you to address your phobia and receive the dental care that you need. The journey will take lots of time, courage and patience, but the result is better health and a sense of personal accomplishment. Consider asking friends or family members to refer you to an Augusta dentist who understands and treats fearful patients. Also, ask about sedation dentistry. The dentist can use sedatives to put you to sleep or induce a sleep-like state to eliminate or greatly reduce you apprehension during your dental treatments. For more information on coping with your fear of needles, call to schedule an appointment today.