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Dental Phobia Specialist

Millennium Park Oral Surgery Our Services Dental Phobia

Millennium Park Oral Surgery

Oral Surgeon located in Chicago, IL

Is fear of the dentist a real thing? In a word, yes. Dr. Lawrence Zager with Millennium Park Oral Surgery in Chicago, Illinois understands the fear some people face when it comes to a trip to the dentist office. That is one reason he offers services such as general anesthesia, IV sedation and nitrous-oxide anesthesia in his office for many of the procedures. It’s estimated that approximately 75% of adults in the U.S. deal with dental phobia at some level. However, delaying the visit can make treatment more difficult as time goes on with an increase of expenses as well as the recovery or time off from missed work/school.

Dental Phobia Q & A

What is Dental Anxiety?

As the name suggests, it is a fear of going to the dentist. But, a consultation with Dr. Zager and his staff will help eliminate those fears and phobias when a person understands why the procedure needs to be done. We are a people-person office and enjoy meeting our patients from all over the world with different customs, languages and experiences.

Why is Dental Fear a Major Problem in the U.S.?

When it comes to seeing a suspicious lesion or ulcer in the mouth, it’s best not to wait to see if a biopsy is necessary. Should this be a malignant lesion, one needs to get this treated quickly to reduce the chance of a metastasis to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Or, when it might be a better time in the late teens or early twenties to remove impacted teeth that do not have enough room to erupt into the mouth and are easier to extract with a shorter recovery.

What Other Problems Can Dental Neglect Cause?

You may not realize that dental health goes beyond your mouth and teeth. Your quality of life will be enhanced with better oral health if you have any of the following:

  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Migraine Headaches/Strokes
  • Arthritis
  • Knee Replacements
  • Hip Or Joint Replacements
  • Heart Valve Replacements
  • Asthma
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Gastric Reflux
  • Kidney Dialysis
  • Organ Transplants
  • Undergoing Chemotherapy
  • Radiation To The Head And Neck
  • Sinusitis
  • Infertility Treatments
  • Auto-immune Diseases
  • Stroke
  • Coronary Artery Diseases
  • Sjogren’s Syndrome
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Metastatic Cancer
  • Autism

Chronic inflammation from dental disease can be reduced a great deal which will lead to a superior outcome.

Ignoring issues like fractured teeth or infections can lead to heart problems, damaged joints, and systemic infections. An abscessed tooth or untreated cavity can allow bacteria into the bloodstream, where it will infect major organs like the heart. Patients who have an ongoing heart problem or who are immunosuppressed due to chemotherapy or illness must be extra cautious about their oral health. They will certainly exacerbate their medical condition by avoiding the dentist.

How Can Dr. Zager Help People with Dental Anxiety?

Dr. Zager has trained extensively to ease that stress his patients face when it comes time to visit him at Millennium Park Oral Surgery in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Zager spent four years after graduating dental school learning hospital-based surgical and anesthesia techniques as part of his specialization in oral and maxillofacial surgery and is ACLS certified. If you face dental phobia, he’s able to administer general anesthesia or a local anesthesia with a sedative so you feel at ease during your treatment. Many times, vocal anesthesia can be just as important in reducing fears, phobias and anxieties when it comes to treatment.