What’s the scariest Halloween costume you can imagine?

A vampire? A witch? A monster of some kind? How about a ghost?

For many people, the thing that scares them the most isn’t some imaginary creature. It’s something very real — the dentist!

We promise that we aren’t that scary, but we also know that won’t necessarily ease your dental fear. You may take some comfort in knowing that your peace of mind is important to everyone at Charles F. Betts Family Dentistry.

We have helped several patients overcome their anxiety about oral care at our office in Decatur, AL. To learn how we do this, schedule a visit with us. Call 256-274-8680 to learn more.

Why Are You Afraid?

If you have a fear of the dentist, please know that we don’t take that personally. We realize that this phobia affects millions of people and for multiple reasons. The better you understand the reasons for your anxiety, the better you can manage your situation. Here are some of the most common concerns we have heard from our patients:

  • You worry that you will be criticized if your oral health isn’t perfect.
  • You worry that dental care will be painful.
  • You worry that you might gag.
  • You worry that you will have another bad experience.
  • You worry that your treatment may require a particular piece of equipment (such as a drill).

For many people, dental anxiety develops as a result of multiple factors. No matter your reason(s), we welcome you to share that with us. That will help us work on a solution to make oral care easier for you to handle.

Calm & Comfortable

Just as multiple factors can contribute to dental anxiety, we offer a variety of options to help you relax.

Our caring team of dental professionals at our office has helped many people relax. We also know that may not be enough for at first. This is why we offer comfort amenities as well. Sometimes feeling cozy with a pillow and a blanket can make a difference.

You also make take comfort in knowing that we use technology to make dental care as pain-free and worry-free as we can. For example, our Spectra cavity detectors can reveal decay in the earliest stages, when they can be treated more easily.

To block pain and gagging, we also offer local anesthetic and sedation options for our patients. Laughing gas, or inhaled sedation, takes effect quickly. Within minutes you can feel relaxed and enjoy the pain-blocking benefits of this service.

In addition to these services, you are more than welcome to let us know if you need to take a break. Sometimes doing a little bit at a time can make your dental treatment easier to manage.

Find What Works For You

We want you to be happy and to have the healthiest smile that you can have. When you come to Charles F. Betts Family Dentistry, we want to work with you to find the right approach to ease your dental fear.

It probably won’t go away in one visit, but we have seen that it can be easier if you take things one appointment at a time.

To learn more or to plan a trip to our office, call 256-274-8680 or fill out our online form.