What is Dental Fear?
A “phobia” is defined as “an irrational and severe fear that leads to avoidance of the feared situation, object or activity”. Exposure to the feared stimulus provokes an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a panic attack. The phobia causes distress, and affects other aspects your life, not just your oral health.
A distinction has been made between dental anxiety, dental fear, and dental phobia.
A “phobia” is defined as “an irrational and severe fear that leads to avoidance of the feared situation, object or activity”. Exposure to the feared stimulus provokes an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a panic attack. The phobia causes distress, and affects other aspects your life, not just your oral health.
A distinction has been made between dental anxiety, dental fear, and dental phobia.
- DENTAL ANXIETY is a reaction to an unknown danger. Anxiety is extremely common, and most people experience some degree of dental anxiety especially if they’re about to have something done which they have never experienced before.
- DENTAL FEAR is a reaction to a known danger, which involves a fight-or-flight response when confronted with the threatening stimulus.
- DENTAL PHOBIA is the same as fear, only much stronger. The fight-or-flight response occurs when just thinking about or being reminded of the threatening situation. Someone with a dental phobia will avoid dental care at all costs until either a physical problem or the psychological burden of the phobia becomes overwhelming.
Fear of Sights, Sounds and Smells
Sights, sounds and smells are powerful environmental triggers. If you suffer with dental phobia, merely evoking the images, sounds and smells you associate with dentistry is enough to generate intense feelings of anxiety or even panic.
Fear of Smells
The typical clinging smell present in most dental practices is caused by eugenol oil of cloves). Smells are very powerful emotional triggers. This is because cells in the nose which process smell input send signals directly to the limbic system – the part of the brain which is responsible for basic emotions like fear. Luckily, more and more dental practices are switching away from eugenol to alternatives with less irritating smells.
The Atmosphere
Some dental practice layouts, equipment and color schemes are much more phobic-friendly and relaxing than others. Does the place look clean (but not “sterile”)? Is there a happy atmosphere (or at least not a scary atmosphere)? What’s the overall “feel” of the place? The atmosphere has a large effect on the mental and emotional state of the patient, especially with children, and dental practices have started to invest more time and effort into making clinics warm, inviting and relaxing.
The Sounds
Many people equate the sound of the drill with pain. If you have had a painful dentistry experience in the past which was accompanied by the sound of a dental tool, you have come to associate the sound with pain. Just hearing the sound may evoke a “perception” of pain. Luckily, they’re not as noisy as they once were. Also, when noise is “inserted” into your mouth, it sounds much louder than it actually is. Ask your dentist to demonstrate any instrument that makes a noise to you first, and sit up while being shown. This will make it much easier for you to feel in control.
Sights, sounds and smells are powerful environmental triggers. If you suffer with dental phobia, merely evoking the images, sounds and smells you associate with dentistry is enough to generate intense feelings of anxiety or even panic.
Fear of Smells
The typical clinging smell present in most dental practices is caused by eugenol oil of cloves). Smells are very powerful emotional triggers. This is because cells in the nose which process smell input send signals directly to the limbic system – the part of the brain which is responsible for basic emotions like fear. Luckily, more and more dental practices are switching away from eugenol to alternatives with less irritating smells.
The Atmosphere
Some dental practice layouts, equipment and color schemes are much more phobic-friendly and relaxing than others. Does the place look clean (but not “sterile”)? Is there a happy atmosphere (or at least not a scary atmosphere)? What’s the overall “feel” of the place? The atmosphere has a large effect on the mental and emotional state of the patient, especially with children, and dental practices have started to invest more time and effort into making clinics warm, inviting and relaxing.
The Sounds
Many people equate the sound of the drill with pain. If you have had a painful dentistry experience in the past which was accompanied by the sound of a dental tool, you have come to associate the sound with pain. Just hearing the sound may evoke a “perception” of pain. Luckily, they’re not as noisy as they once were. Also, when noise is “inserted” into your mouth, it sounds much louder than it actually is. Ask your dentist to demonstrate any instrument that makes a noise to you first, and sit up while being shown. This will make it much easier for you to feel in control.