Why am I afraid of going to the dentist?
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Dental anxiety, or dental fear, is estimated to affect approximately 36% of the population, with a further 12% suffering from extreme dental fear (Beaton et. al 2014).
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Dental phobias have a cyclical pattern, making fear of dental treatments difficult to overcome (Figure 1).
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Dental phobia will probably affect fewer individuals, and show a more moderate increase as the young individual grows older (Figure 2).
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Dental phobia is a more serious condition than anxiety. It leaves people panic-stricken and terrified. People with dental phobia have an awareness that the fear is totally irrational, but are unable to do much about it.
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Odontophobia has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a real disease. It is also a phobia condition that is currently listed in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV. According to WHO estimates, it is believed to affect around 15–20% of the population (De Stefano R. 2019).
Signs of Dental Phobia
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avoidance behavior (doing anything possible to avoid the dentist)
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forced to go to dentist when experiencing extreme pain
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trouble sleeping the night before an exam
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feelings of nervousness escalate in waiting room
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feeling physically ill or crying at thought of visiting the dentist
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intense uneasiness at the thought of, or actually when, objects are placed in your mouth during the dental treatment or suddenly feeling like it is difficult to breathe
Citations
Beaton, L., Freeman, R., & Humphris, G. (2014). Why are people afraid of the dentist? Observations and explanations. Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre, 23(4), 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1159/000357223
De Stefano R. (2019). Psychological Factors in Dental Patient Care: Odontophobia. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 55(10), 678. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55100678