Often patients new to our office will inform us it has been a long time since they have seen a dentist. When asked why, the most frequent response is not finances or busy schedules, it is that they are afraid of what we might find. For most of us, fear of the unknown creates apprehension. Even when we know what the correct course of action is, we are often hesitant to leave the familiarity of our current situation. The current situation might be not knowing what is going on in our mouths and as long as it doesn’t hurt why not continue.

Obviously, there are several flaws in this rationale. There are often hidden issues that can only be detected by a visit to your dental health professional. Frequently, these problems can be dealt with easily and painlessly in their early stages.Waiting for a crisis to arise often creates more anxiety and more complicated solutions.

The best solution is to sum up your courage and make the decision you know will be best. I will not deny there may be some anxious moments but you will feel better and be healthier, and hopefully wondering “why didn’t I do this sooner, it’s not so bad.”