Your oral care is just as important as the medical care for the rest of your body. However, for some patients, dental fears and anxiety get in the way of them getting the proper care they need for a healthy smile. If you know all too well what it means to be afraid of the dentist, you probably spend a lot of time concerned about the health of your teeth. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about dental treatment anxiety that can further exacerbate the problem if you are one of these people. Take a look at some of the common myths about dental anxiety that you should know as a sufferer so you don't feel even more anxious about your situation:

Myth: There's really no solution for dental treatment anxiety. 

If you suffer from anxiety at just the thought of going to the dentist, there is a pretty good chance that at some point someone has told you that you are only dealing with usual worries and fears and you should just get over it. However, in severe cases, it is impossible for someone suffering from this anxiety to simply get over it and go to the dentist anyway. It is for this very reason that some dentists do focus on helping patients with severe treatment anxiety by treating them with different methods, such as while they are under sedation. 

Myth: Dental treatment anxiety is just you being too scared to go to the dentist.

This form of anxiety can be relative to pretty scary problems, such as panic attacks and even physical symptoms like rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure. Therefore, you should never let anyone tell you that what you are experiencing is not a serious problem. Do not be ashamed to talk to the dentist about your anxiety before you get treatment so you can see that there are treatment options available. 

Myth: You will be judged about the condition of your teeth because you have not been to the dentist. 

The thought that a professional will see your smile and think lowly of you because of it can actually make your anxiety even worse than it already is. Dentists usually have experience with just about every dental condition you can imagine. Their job is not to judge you based on the condition of your oral health but to help you with the problems you are facing. Therefore, try not to let yourself get overly worried about what the dentist will see when you open your mouth. 

Contact a dental office like John S. Lyon DDS for more information and assistance.