Not in my mouth you don’t!
The 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. Finally, despite what your Aunt Fanny may have told you, dentistry is just not the same as it used to be. And we can prove it.
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.
Dr. Angela Burns moved to Austin 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with our beautiful city. Dr. Burns is originally from the Texarkana area. She attended Texas A&M for her undergraduate degree and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center for her degree in dental surgery (DDS). Dr. Burns is committed to providing her patients with gentle, technologically advanced dental treatment. She attends an average of 60 hours of continuing education every year. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association, and the Capital Area Dental Society. Dr. Burns and her husband, Gary, have an 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, who is a proud 6th grader at Hill Country Middle School. She is also very involved in the Eanes PTO, her church, and loves raising her family in the Westlake community. “Growing up, I was drawn to mediating and helping others feel more included and less anxious. I was a camp counselor, student government officer and being the oldest of five, I was the family mediator. I found that I had a calling to help alleviate stressful situations for others and realized that being a good listener was something that was key to this. These skills really helped guide me into becoming a dentist that has based my practice on relationships, empathy and a sense of comfort. I knew that I wanted to provide an atmosphere that felt like home when others walked in. Our practice is small, personal and state of the art and we hope you feel like you’re hanging out with friends when you are here!” When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Burns enjoys traveling, hiking the greenbelt, enjoying Austin’s music scene, and eating Amy’s Ice Cream.
