Dental phobias differ from fears and anxieties in the way that ‘phobias’ in general are rooted deeply within us, affecting our minds, bodies and souls. Physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating and panic overcome a patient who has a dental phobia almost anytime dental care or dentists are mentioned. It could be the dental office, type of procedure that needs to be done, or even the sounds of the drills that can trigger a panic attack.
According to a study by Dr. Michael Krochak, it’s estimated that 50% of Americans do not visit the dentist on a regular basis. Of those people an estimated 9-15% are avoiding dental care due to fear of the dentist, anxiety of the unknown and phobias that grow with time. These statistics may not seem like much, but it translates into 30-40 million people per year who do not see the dentist because of phobias.
Causes of Dental Phobias
Phobias in general are much more serious than fears or anxieties. They are deeply rooted in a person. Phobias are defined as irrational severe fears that lead to avoidance of the feared situation, object or activity. Unlike fears that are learned and can possibly be unlearned, phobias are not as easily dismissed with confronting the situation. In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual or Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) describes dental phobia as a ‘marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable.’ However, research suggests that up to 20% of dental phobics have a co-occurring psychiatric disorder such as generalized anxiety disorder and depression.
Here’s a look at some of the causes of dental phobia:
- Previous negative experiences
- Uncaring dentist
- Humiliation
- PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
- The phobia was learned or observed and learned
- Co-occurring mental disorder
Do You Have a Dental Phobia?
There are many types of dental phobias ranging from rational to irrational. Here are a few questions that may or may not suggest you have a dental phobia.
- Are you freaking out about the dentist right now?
- Do you avoid the dentist at all costs?
- Do you need dental work at the moment but refuse to set an appointment?
- Are you open to treatment to get over your phobia?
- Can you talk about the dentist without physically suffering?
If you are becoming overwhelmed reading this article, you probably have a dental phobia. In fact, you don’t need anyone including me to tell you that. People who suffer from phobias struggle to have a conversation about the topic. When words like ‘dentist’ and ‘root canal’ physically bother someone, treatment should sought after, possibly from your dentist and/or a psychiatrist or psychologist.
Dental Phobia Treatment
Phobias are not easily treated like fears are, however the same techniques can be beneficial to the right candidates. Dentists are able to prescribe muscle relaxers that simply help their patients relax before and during an appointment. If the phobia is extremely severe, talk with your dentist about the problem. If you can possibly seek help from a psychiatrist that too may benefit you, allowing you, your dentist and doctor to work together to help conquer the phobia.
