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
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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