Did you know an estimated 36% of Americans experience anxiety around dental appointments? Unfortunately, you might avoid scheduling procedures necessary to protect and preserve your dental health if you’re overly afraid. Understanding why you’re scared can help you overcome your worry, but the truth is that there could be several potential causes behind it.
For instance, if you watch many television or movies, the media may have influenced your opinion about oral healthcare and contributed to your concerns. Continue reading to learn about three widely viewed portrayals of on-screen dentists that could have shaped your current understanding of the profession!
On-Screen Dentist #1: Hermey the Misfit Elf
Now that November has arrived, the holidays are just around the corner. If you’re like an estimated 85% to 95% of Americans who celebrate Christmas, you might be looking forward to your annual viewing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This made-for-TV movie first aired in 1964 and has since become a beloved family classic.
This holiday favorite features a young Rudolph who is ousted from the reindeer games because of his giant, blinking red nose. He vows to run away with a hard-working toymaker who doesn’t like his job. He partners with Hermey, a misfit elf who prefers studying dentistry over making toys. Fortunately, his unique interests come in handy when the pair come across Bumble, the abominable snowman with a toothache. He extracts the monster’s throbbing teeth to save the day!
On-Screen Dentist #2: Dr. Phillip Sherman
One famous dentist that many children and adults are familiar with is Dr. Philip Sherman from the Disney Pixar animated feature film Finding Nemo. This character plays a secondary role as the benevolent uncle of the destructive Darla, who is notorious for being aggressively affectionate with her pet fish. At the film’s start, he captures Nemo from his fishing boat, kicking off the clown fish’s grand adventure in the deep blue.
However, Dr. Sherman is not portrayed as an overly skilled or confident practitioner. Instead, he seems to use his dental career to fund his real passion, which is scuba diving. Despite this, he remains a well-known dentist to audiences far and wide because of his presence on the big screen.
On-Screen Dentist #3: Dr. Wilbur Wonka
Most families are familiar with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a 2005 remake of the original film 1971 featuring the titular character, Willy Wonka. In this movie, a grown Willy Wonka (played by Johnny Depp) recalls painful memories with his sinister father. Because Wilbur Wonka is a dentist, he abhors sugar and disappears after forcing Willy to run away to pursue his candy-making dreams. The father and son become estranged, but the backstory impels Willy to create his world of imagination that we have all come to know and love.
These portrayals of dentists don’t reflect the reality of the skills, education, and training that your provider must complete to be licensed to care for your teeth. If you’re overly anxious about an upcoming appointment, ask them if they offer sedatives and about their experience with your procedure. They’re usually more than happy to answer your questions so you feel confident moving forward!
About the Practice
At Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial, & Implant Surgery, you benefit from a team of board-certified oral surgeons who offer a wide range of procedures to improve your dental condition. Whether you require an extraction or an implant, they are experts who can help. They combine a caring and compassionate approach with state-of-the-art equipment to deliver smile-saving services from three convenient locations. If you have a troublesome tooth that needs help, you can request an appointment on the website or call (703) 736-1640.