Fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), fear of heights (acrophobia), fear of spiders (arachnophobia), and one of the phobias we frequently encounter, fear of dentists (dentophobia).
A phobia is defined as the fear of a situation that negatively affects a person's life. Phobias are often caused by negative past experiences.
Dentophobia, in other words, fear of dentists, can be defined as a state where individuals experience intense stress, anxiety, and fear towards dentists, dental treatments, or even the "dentist's chair" as it's colloquially known.
HOW DOES DENTOPHOBIA DEVELOP?
Negative experiences, mostly in childhood, cause dentophobia.
The equipment used by dentists during treatment can trigger phobias in individuals of all ages.
The thought that dental treatment will be painful is a significant factor in dentophobia. Needles used during anesthesia, in particular, can trigger dentophobia.
Patients with poor oral hygiene, bad breath, and cavities feel shame towards the dentist and may postpone their dental appointments. This feeling can lead to the development of a dentist phobia in the individual.
HOW CAN WE COPE WITH DENTOPHOBIA?
Identifying the cause of the phobia and addressing it is the first and most crucial step in this process.
Advancing and modernizing dentistry increases patient trust in the dentist and reduces existing feelings of fear.
Meeting and talking with the dentist before treatment, getting information about the treatment and equipment, and familiarizing oneself with the treatment environment greatly contributes to reducing anxiety and fear in the individual.
Utilizing distractions such as listening to music, wearing an eye mask, or doing breathing exercises will help the individual relax and facilitate the treatment.
In necessary cases, treatments can be performed with mild sedatives or sedation, in addition to local anesthesia.
Professional psychological support will be beneficial for individuals with more severe phobias.
Prepared by: Intern Dentist Bünyamin Umurbek