Dentophobia is also known as fear of dentists. People with dentophobia feel extremely anxious and worried when they think about going to the dentist or during a visit to the dentist. Some traumas experienced in the past or during childhood, family history or environmental factors can cause fear of dentists. The treatment of the common fear of dentists is planned individually. Generally, exposure therapy, guided imagery and relaxation techniques are used to improve and treat this disorder.
Most phobias are actually a type of anxiety disorder. It causes too much fear of an event or situation that would not normally cause any harm. People with dentist phobia may experience serious dental problems if they disrupt their dental treatment. Therefore, it is a phobia that needs to be treated.
Why does dentophobia (fear of dentists) occur?
Dentophobia can be caused by many different factors. While the fear of needles is among the common causes of this condition, the person may feel extremely anxious at the thought of getting a needle in the gums and may resort to postponement by avoiding this situation. In addition to these, the factors that may cause fear of dentists can be listed as follows:
Family history: Having a family member with a phobic disorder or anxiety disorder increases the risk of having a phobia. Genetic factors may be among the causes of this condition.
Traumas: Some traumatic events in childhood such as violence, abuse or bullying can cause fear of dentists.
Environmental Factors: Fear of dentists starts in childhood in most individuals. A person may acquire such a phobia because of scary stories they hear from their family, friends or relatives. In addition, some parents may instill in their children a fear of going to the dentist as a punishment.
In addition, feeling extreme pain or suffering during the treatment of a dental condition that occurred in the past or during childhood can lead to this type of phobia. The basis of fears usually begins in childhood.
What are the symptoms of dentophobia?
The level of fear experienced by people with dentophobia can vary from mild to extreme. Fears can cause some physical and emotional symptoms on the person. Dentophobia symptoms can be listed as follows:
- Crying after the thought of going to the dentist
- Anxiety
- Concern
- Insomnia and sleep problems
- Tremor
- Dizziness and loss of consciousness
- Excessive sweating
- Heart palpitations
- Nausea
- Breathing difficulties
- Some stomach disorders such as indigestion
Risk Factors for Dentophobia (Fear of Dentists)
There are some risk factors that can trigger dental phobia. A person may become overly anxious and worried when faced with certain situations. Being in a dental office and having bad experiences can lead to the emergence of fears. Factors such as seeing the instruments used in dental examination and treatment, the dentist's chair and seeing the dentist for people who have a fear of doctors can be triggers.
In addition, this fear can also be seen in people who have one of the different types of phobias; people with specific conditions such as anxiety disorder, panic disorder or substance use disorder are more likely to have this fear.
Complications of Dentophobia (Fear of Dentists)
People who experience intense fear of the dentist avoid going to the dentist even if they have dental conditions and this leads to deterioration of oral and dental health. The complications that this can cause are as follows:
- Decayed teeth
- Gum (periodontal) disease
- Heart disease (coronary artery disease)
- Tooth loss
- Pneumonia and respiratory infections
How is Dentophobia (Fear of Dentists) Diagnosed?
Since feelings of fear and anxiety surrounding dentists and dental treatments are common, many people may not realize that the symptoms they experience are abnormal. While a person may experience intense feelings of anxiety and worry when visiting the dentist, this condition can be diagnosed by the dentist or other specialists.
The dentist may refer the person to a psychologist or mental health professional. The health professional will examine the complaints, experiences and symptoms to assess what impact the phobia has on the person's daily life.
The health professional will ask a number of questions and there are a number of considerations. These include triggers, the type of symptoms experienced, the frequency and severity of the symptoms and how much they affect daily life.
The conditions required forthe diagnosis of dentophobia are as follows:
- The fears experienced are excessive, abnormal and recurrent. The thought of going to the dentist, visiting the dentist or watching a video on the subject.
- Exposure to dentists or dental treatments leads in most cases to an immediate anxiety response
- Avoiding going to the dentist when dental treatment is mandatory, experiencing excessive fear, anxiety and distress
- Fears lasting at least 6 months
Dentophobia (Fear of Dentist) Treatment
There are several different treatment options for dentophobia . However, not everyone with dentophobia needs treatment. If the symptoms and signs are mild and do not affect daily life and health too much, treatment may not be necessary.
In addition, treatment may be recommended for people who do not undergo dental treatment due to fear of dentists, and for people who experience symptoms repeatedly and severely. In this case, a personalized treatment plan is created depending on the triggers and symptoms.
The most commonly used methods in the treatment of dentist phobia can be listed as follows:
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy, also known as systematic desensitization, is one of the most commonly used treatments for fear of dentists. This type of therapy provides exposure to triggers in a safe and controlled environment.
Exposure is gradual, starting with the situation that results in the least phobic response, such as looking at a picture of dental treatment or talking about visiting a dentist.
Exposure therapy also helps to address the negative thoughts and feelings experienced when encountering dentists and to change physiological and psychological responses. Relaxation and coping techniques are also taught.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment or alongside exposure therapy. It is a type of talk therapy and sessions can be individual or part of a group. Sessions are designed to help identify or change negative perceptions and thoughts about dentists. They contribute to addressing the burning emotions and behaviors associated with them.