Afraid of the Dentist? 5 Ways to Reduce Dental Anxiety

Dental health Sedation Dentistry

dental anxiety treatment Phoenix

Talk to your dentist

There’s something about having knowledge on anything unknown that makes us feel less afraid or at least more self-assured handling the unknown. If you consider dentistry an unknown topic, maybe you can educate yourself by asking your dentist lots of questions. Find a dentist willing to listen to your fearful thoughts and concerns so they can better assure you there isn’t much to worry about. Usually when we talk about our fears someone with more information can help by reducing our anxiety. They may even eliminate it completely by showing our thoughts to be entirely irrational.

Meditate

Studies show how incorporating a 10 minute meditation routine can improve our overall feeling of wellness considerably. Think of meditation as a way for you to focus on the present moment and be comfortable with a subtle feeling of relaxation. This will provide a sense of tranquility we don’t always experience in our day to day lives. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I dedicated time to focus on the present moment and simply watch life pass, instead of trying to control everything.” With meditation we can tune in to our natural way of being and more easily distinguish the difference between an authentic threat or an anxious thought.

Bring a friend or family member to your appointments

Sometimes modifying your environment in way that’s more familiar will reduce nervousness. A good way of doing this is to bring someone familiar to your dental appointments who can serve you with emotional support. This could be a close friend or family member who understands how you feel. You should bring someone who is prepared to talk you out of negative thinking patterns. Your companion ideally will understand they are there for you and that this isn’t so much about the two of you hanging out socializing. Make sure they are up to the challenge!

Practice good oral hygiene

By having superb oral hygiene you can feel more confident about your next visit to the dentist. With excellent dental care you can go into the dentist with a lower chance of having a root canal or being diagnosed with gingivitis, the onset to periodontal disease. See why these conditions may worsen your anxiety? If you were diagnosed with gingivitis, your mind would have logical reasons for feeling nervous which is not what we want. However, if you’ve been doing the regular brushing and flossing as recommended then there isn’t as much to stress about.

Seek out a therapist

Are you feeling anxious all the time or just while at the dentist? Seeking out a therapist may help with dental anxiety. Your therapist may counsel adjusting your daily routine to help combat both dental anxiety and any anxiety from day to day life. Or, your dentist may suggest specific techniques to focus on while at the dentist. The 3-2-1 technique involves naming 3 things you can hear, followed by 3 you can see and lastly, things you can feel. Then you reduce the numbers to 2, then 1. This is a useful exercise you can do while in a dentist’s office or anywhere you may feel anxious.

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Think You May Have A Cavity?

Dental health Restorative Dentistry

white dental fillings Phoenix

Hello Phoenix friends of Harris Dental! Teeth take a lot of tender, loving care. And even when we do our best to practice daily dental hygiene, bacteria can still sneak in and cause tooth decay – the common cold of oral health. At Harris Dental, we have been filling cavities for years and would be happy to take care of any cavities or other dental problems you are experiencing.

Few individuals go their entire life without getting a cavity. Unfortunately for some children, a cavity is the first health problem they experience in childhood.

Cavities are caused when bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine to form plaque.

Plaque then clings to your teeth and the acid in the plaque starts to dissolve the enamel. The result is a hole in your tooth which can also be accompanied by pain.

Because of how quick and effective dental fillings are, they are one of the best options to correct a cavity. At Harris Dental, Dr. Harris uses top-of-the-line instruments to examine the size and severity of the cavity and then identify exactly what type of filling is required. We offer white fillings that are as durable as old-school metal fillings and match your teeth precisely.

Once a decision is made on what filling you’ll need, Dr. Harris will carry out the required preparations for the procedure. When a filling is completed the right way, it can last for decades! That’s why we are sure the treatment is done with precision.

A filling isn’t a “set it and forget it” treatment. A tooth that has received a filling still needs to be properly cared for because decay can develop in the surrounding tooth structure if bacteria is allowed to flourish.

Checkups are a key part of caring for your teeth and there’s no better place to receive checkups than at Harris Dental. We have a comfortable, state-of-the-art office and a friendly, professional staff! That’s why so many individuals in Phoenix have trusted us with their teeth since 1979.

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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It’s A Great Time To Have Ugly Teeth!

Cosmetic Dentistry Dental health General Dentistry

Mesa cosmetic smile makeover

Huh? Yep, it’s true. It’s a great time to have ugly teeth because cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry provides several procedures to turn ugly to unbelievably beautiful.

Teeth whitening can benefit almost every adult. Years of staining can be magically erased in a day at your dentist’s office or over a few months with a cost-effective at-home kit. This popular treatment gives you a lot of bang for your cosmetic dental buck.

If your teeth are slightly crooked or have small chips or cracks, minimally invasive porcelain veneers could be the answer. A veneer is a translucent, wafer-thin cover that is permanently attached to the front of a tooth. Many people get veneers on the upper front teeth for a fabulous smile renewal. Call Harris Dental at 480-428-0040 to learn more about wonderful veneers.

Have your gums receded and thereby exposed the metal base of an old dental crown? Soft tissue grafts and/or crown replacement can correct this common issue. Call Harris Dental at 480-428-0040 to schedule a gum-contouring consultation.

A missing tooth detracts from your smile, even if your other teeth look great. Many people have benefited from dental implants. A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of the missing tooth. The post integrates with the bone to provide a stable foundation for the natural-looking crown. Dental implants can also anchor full or partial dentures and significantly improve life for denture wearers.

If your teeth have severe alignment problems, we encourage you to think about braces. Dental patients of all ages are undergoing orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth and transform their smile. The newest braces are faster, less noticeable, and more comfortable than ever before.

Other cosmetic dental procedures available at Harris Dental in Phoenix are inlays/onlays, dental crowns, and white fillings. If you have an ugly smile, our team of distinctive dental professionals is enthusiastic about making it dazzling. Call 480-428-0040 today!

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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The Link Between Gum Disease and Viral Infections

Dental health General Dentistry Gum disease

gum disease and COVID-19 risks Phoenix

The pandemic has increased public awareness of the danger of viruses and the importance of a well-functioning immune system.

Our Immune System Protects Against Serious Illness

The variation in the seriousness of COVID-19 illness is due, in part, to the strength of natural biological defenses.

Of course, you may be wondering why we’re reviewing this in a dental blog. Does it have anything to do with a healthy smile?

Actually, it does. Scientists have found a link between oral bacteria and viral infections.

Gum Disease is Caused by Bacteria

The oral bacteria in question is Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis for short). The “gingivalis” in its name gives you a clue to what type of bacteria it is. As you may have imagined, P. gingivalis is the bacteria that causes gingivitis and the more advanced form of gum disease called periodontitis.

Your Mouth Produces Natural Viral Protection

Interferon lambdas are a family of proteins generated by cells in the mouth. These proteins protect us from all varieties of bacterial and viral infections in addition to the coronavirus. The danger of P. gingivalis is that it makes Interferon lambdas less effective at protecting us.

This is how one of the researchers explained it:

“Our studies identified certain pathogenic bacterial species, P. gingivalis, which cause periodontal disease, can completely suppress interferon production and severely enhance susceptibility to viral infection. These resident oral plaque bacteria play a key role in regulating antiviral responses.” Juhi Bagaitkar, assistant professor, University of Louisville Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Disease. 

Oral Health and Physical Health Go Hand in Hand

As if you needed one more reason to prevent gum disease! Not only does gum disease put you tooth loss, it makes you more susceptible to the risks of viruses. To recap: if you prevent gum disease, you protect your mouth from P. gingivalis. This lets you benefit from Interferon lambdas and the virus protection they provide.

Let’s explore basic oral hygiene behaviors that can prevent periodontitis and keep your smile healthy:

  • Brush at least twice daily using the correct brushing techniques
  • Use a fluoride toothpaste
  • Floss daily using the correct flossing technique
  • Get a professional dental cleaning twice a year
  • Schedule twice-yearly dental exams
  • Take care of dental issues in their early stages so they don’t progress

Has it been a while since you’ve had a dental exam and cleaning? Call today to schedule a visit. We are located in Phoenix and serve the Phoenix area. Our friendly team of dental professionals is here for you and your family.

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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How Do You Measure Success?

Dental health General Dentistry Gum disease

Affordable Phoenix Tooth Bleaching At Harris Dental, we are committed to success. Dr. Harris’s experience, ability, and commitment to dental excellence result in outstanding outcomes daily for our dentistry patients. Each team member at Harris Dental shares Dr. Harris’s passion for success.

For many Phoenix dental patients, success is a routine check-up that reveals healthy teeth and no cavities. For our cosmetic dental patients, success is a stunning smile transformation using veneers, teeth whitening, and white fillings.

We also enjoy providing tooth-straightening for youth and adults. Though these transformations generally take longer than smile transformations, the results are no less incredible. In fact, our orthodontia patients probably appreciate their straight teeth and beautiful smile more than any of our other patients.

Success sometimes means removing tetracycline stains for a teeth-bleaching patient who has been hiding his/her smile for years. Sometimes, success is as simple as helping a nervous patient feel serene during their visit to our Phoenix family dental office.

What do you desire for your smile? At Harris Dental, our success depends on your complete smile satisfaction.

To meet our helpful team and discuss your smile specifics, call Harris Dental at 480-428-0040 .

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

Read More