People have dental anxiety for a wide variety of reasons. The most common fears that patients express include thoughts of discomfort, gagging or choking, or receiving the injection of local anesthetic. Sometimes, these all combine to exaggerate fearful thoughts. These fears are quite understandable. Additional triggers of dental anxiety include the stimulation that occurs due to the sounds of the dental drill or the natural tension that arises when another person is in close proximity to the face. Receiving dental care can also involve a sense of loss of control.
While it can be helpful to understand what's behind dental anxiety, this understanding doesn't magically resolve the issue. You may know that you fear seeing the dentist because you're worried that you'll be embarrassed about the condition of your oral health (especially if you've avoided receiving dental care for many years. The next step is to talk to a trusted dentist about how your next dental visit can be made less stressful.