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Dealing with a Dental Phobia

Nervous Woman HeadshotThe bad thing about dental phobia is that it prevents people from seeking the care they need—when they need it. The good thing about it is that, today, we can treat fear as successfully as we treat tooth decay or crooked teeth.

Over six million people experience some degree of anxiety when they visit the dentist. Two million dental patients are just plain scared, so scared that they suffer shaking, confusion, heart palpitations and changes in speech and blood pressure just thinking about dental treatment.

Thanks to many dedicated researchers, we’ve learned a lot about what causes fear. And we’ve got the antidotes.

Do you have a Dental Phobia?

If you, or someone you care about, needs help in coping with dental fear, we’ve got some suggestions :

  • Come into the office with someone you trust—your mother, a close friend or even your Teddy. You’ll feel more secure.
  • Make an early appointment—that way you won’t spend the whole day worrying about your visit.
  • Think Positive. Think about an experience you thought might have been unpleasant, but turned out okay—and hold that thought.
  • Don’t tell everyone you’re going to the dentist. Fear is contagious and some people just love to pass it on.
  • Share your fears with your dental team. We have some very effective treatment techniques. Besides, we love to talk!
  • Don’t be a hero. This is not a good time to be macho about even the slightest discomfort.
  • Relax. Your emotions affect your pain threshold. We’ll help.

About Yuri Kaneda, DDS

Dr. Yuri Kaneda was born in Japan and immigrated to the US when she was 4 years old with her family. She lived in Ohio, Nebraska, and Illinois before finally settling in the San Diego area. A graduate of Bonita Vista High School, she went on to the University of California Berkeley where she obtained her Bachelors in Microbiology and Immunology. After working for 2 years in growth plate research at University of California San Diego, she went to the University of California San Francisco Dental School for her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Upon graduation, she returned to San Diego where she worked as an associate in the practice of Drs. Morimoto and Yaryan, her childhood dentist. She then started her own practice in 1995 and has been at her present location since 1999 which happens to be across the street from her high school!

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