At Advanced Dental Artistry, we understand the severity of dental anxiety for some patients and the impact this fear can have on your overall oral health. We have helped a lot of patients overcome their fear of the dentist which can often be caused by a number of different factors.

Not only do patients feel anxious because they expect to feel a lot of pain when visiting the dentist; it’s also very common for patients to fear a loss of control. Placing your trust and mouth in the hands of your dentists can understandably lead to a feeling of restraint and helplessness. Another reason for a fear of the dentist is the vicious cycle of feeling embarrassed of not having visited the dentist for a long time and worrying about the state of their oral health – and this then only leads to further avoidance of the dentist!

Fortunately, our dentists are specially trained in handling anxious patients and a variety of solutions are available to reduce pain and alleviate fear in the dentist’s chair. We have seen many formerly anxious and scared patients who now feel relief at the ease of visiting us.

If you’re assiduous when it comes to your oral health yet still prone to cavities or dental problems, it could be linked to your genes. Like many other aspects of our health, there is a genetic component to your teeth – from the way they look to their overall health.

For example, some people have a genetic predisposition to softer tooth enamel, making it easier for the enamel to get eroded and cavities to form. Saliva plays another integral role in your oral health. It remineralises your tooth enamel, rinses food debris away from your teeth, and breaks down food for digestion. However, the condition of your saliva is governed by your genes, and bad saliva genes can negatively impact your dental health.

Your mouth is home to a wide range of bacteria communities. Depending on your genetics, your mouth could contain more of healthy or unhealthy bacteria, creating a particular environment for certain dental issues.

So remember; brushing, flossing, a healthy diet, and regular dental visits are all part of the path to a healthy mouth.

As a result of advances in medical science, doctors can save more lives and most of us live longer. However, many of these medical advancements are sometimes accompanied by side effects. Certain medical conditions and their accompanying drug treatment can have a profound effect on the oral health.

Patients who suffer from chronic diseases are prone to also become sufferers of dental health issues. Sometimes this is because of the chronic disease itself (e.g. an autoimmune disease which alters different factors in your body or mouth) and sometimes it’s due to the treatment of the disease. Systematic drug treatments increase the risk of a compromised oral environment, with the most obvious being drug-induced gingival overgrowth.

As a medically compromised patient, it’s essential you have an open and honest relationship with a dentist who understands your overall health. Together, you and your dentist can then manage your oral health and nip any problems in the bud. This leads to a healthier mouth and a healthier you.