Justin K. Hillock D.D.S.: Tips for People Who Fear Dentists

As a busy dentist who maintains dual practices at Guthrie Center Family Dentistry and Coon Rapids Family Dentistry in Iowa, Justin K. Hillock, D.D.S. frequently works with fearful patients. Many individuals experience anxiety about visiting the dentist, and in some cases the phobia becomes so extreme people avoid seeking appropriate dental care. Fearful dental patients typically fall into one of three categories:

1. Patients with dental anxiety fear the unknown, and are often anxious about the pain associated with an unfamiliar procedure.

2. Patients with dental fear react to a known stimulus. In other words, they have had the same procedure previously, know what it entails, and still reasonably or unreasonably dread it.

3. Patients with dental phobia experience extreme anxiety when confronted with the idea of dental care. They may recognize that the fear is irrational, but it persists, and they avoid any stimulus that makes them think about visiting the dentist.

Dr. Hillock understands the roots of fearful attitudes, and he works with patients in his office experiencing symptoms that fall across the spectrum of anxiety, fear, and phobia. He offers the following tips for overcoming these conditions:

1. Find a dentist who makes you feel comfortable.

2. Make your first appointment a simple consultation. Share your concerns with the doctor and his or her staff.

3. Look at all of the equipment the dentist or hygienist will use during your visit; ask how it works.

4. Schedule your first treatment appointment as just a cleaning.

5. Take music with you and listen to it during any procedures.

6. Discuss the option of receiving intravenous sedation.

7. Learn relaxation techniques to help during stressful situations.

8. Seek psychological help if your anxiety becomes a full-blown phobia.

Boy Scouts of America

An accomplished Dentist and graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Dr. Justin Hillock served as a Member of Boy Scouts of America. Founded in 1910 as part of the international scout movement, Boy Scouts of America initially set out to teach young boys how to become constructive members of society. Since its inception, Boy Scouts of America has counted more than 110 million Americans among its membership.

According to the mission statement, the Boy Scouts of America seeks to educate young people in character development, self-reliance, and responsible citizenship by organizing a wide variety of outdoor activities and educational programming. For older members, Boy Scouts of America partners with a number of community organizations to provide career guidance and mentoring services. Younger members of Boy Scouts of America can participate in several outdoor activities to build values of good citizenship, trust, and other skills.

During the early years, Boy Scouts of America sought to instill values of patriotism and individualism in young men drawn to big cities during the progressive movement. Alongside organizations such as the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America placed an emphasis on social welfare and religious, mental, physical, and social development. The early Boy Scouts of America also drew upon membership from the Woodcraft Indians and the Sons of Daniel Boone, two similar organizations that later merged with Boy Scouts of America.

Membership in Boy Scouts of America generally falls into three categories according to age. Cub Scouting, designed for boys between first and fifth grade, seeks to instill values of character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Boys between the ages of 10.5 and 18 can participate in Boy Scouting, which draws upon camping, aquatics, and camping to develop good character and citizenship. Venturing, available to men and women between the ages of 13 and 21, consists of a wide variety of tangential programs such as Sea Scouts and Air Explorers. Through the Venturing Program, young men and women learn values, which can help them become mature, responsible adults.