The dental fear is one of the phobias. Although the thought of going to the dentist’s is most queasy, in people with dental phobia, the fear of the dentist but takes on pathological proportions that prevent any treatment. The condition of the teeth is correspondingly bad. The trigger of a dental fear is usually a very unpleasant experience. Read here what you can do to avoid the fear of the dentist.
Dentist fear: description
There is hardly a person who likes to go to the dentist. The fear of the drill, the pain and being left on the chair are natural. For some people, however, the fear is so pronounced that they completely avoid a visit to the dentist. They arrange appointments, but cancel them again and eventually they will not go any further. From a (normal) dental fear, a dental phobia – also called oral phobia or dental phobia – has developed.
Dental Fear: Symptoms
The fear of the dentist leads into a vicious circle, because without regular dental care, a small problem (such as incipient caries) can grow into a large (destroyed teeth), which is correspondingly more complex and thus more burdensome to redevelop.
Many sufferers prefer to take heavy damage to the teeth and gums, rather than face their fear. To the pain, which emanate from the broken teeth, then come shame feelings due to the ugly to look at the teeth and the most foul-smelling breath. Those affected withdraw from social life, and some develop depression and other mental illnesses.
Dental Fear: Causes and Risk Factors
The trigger for a dental fear is usually a negative experience when visiting a dentist. If the patient has pain during the treatment or other negative feelings such as fear of not getting enough air, or anxiety because he feels at the mercy of the patient, they will memorize it. At the next visit to the dentist – or even the mere thought of it – these negative feelings are retrieved again. He gets, for example, tachycardia, sweats and shortness of breath. Psychologists call this process conditioning.
Even scary stories of others about painful experiences stir up the dull feeling – even people who have never experienced pain in the dentist, sometimes become an anxiety patient. Dentist treatment or just tooth cleaning – experience shows that the longer the last visit to the dentist, the greater the panic.
Dental Fear: Examinations and Diagnosis
To diagnose a dental phobia, the therapist orients himself to clinical questionnaires that cover the important aspects of the symptoms. The following questions could ask the doctor for the diagnosis of dental fear:
- Does the thought of visiting a dentist trigger fears for you?
- Does this fear prevent you from visiting a dentist?
- What physical signs do you feel when having to go to the dentist (for example palpitations, sweating or dry mouth)?
- Do you have the impression that your fear is exaggerated?
Dental Fear: Therapy
For people with a dental phobia, there are now special offers. Some dental offices specialize in working with anxiety patients. The care of the dentist goes beyond the normal treatment. Talks in advance of treatment and special care during the treatment counteract the fears.
If you are afraid of the dentist, openly address the problem. So your dentist can react accordingly.
If the consultation with the dentist already overwhelms you, talk to your family doctor. He can recommend suitable contact points where you can get advice. In almost all national dental associations there are also lists of relevant experts and specially trained in this field practitioners.
With them, you can discuss the way forward and develop a plan that allows you to get your fears under control and treat your teeth largely free from fear.
Help with mild dental fear
Less pronounced fears can be alleviated by relaxing music, a particularly strong local anesthesia or even by a humorous distraction by the dentist. In many cases, a sympathetic and explanatory conversation is fear-alleviating. But in case of a real anxiety disorder that is not enough. Then you should consult a doctor or therapist who is specifically concerned with such pathological anxiety.
Dentist anxiety – treatment under general anesthesia
Some practices offer therapy under general anesthesia in cooperation with anesthesiologists (anesthesiologists). It is especially indicated when the dental problems are acute. If, for example, the passage of purulent root inflammation threatens the jaw, action must be taken quickly.
Although general anesthesia allows dental treatment in such cases, dental phobia remains. In addition, general anesthesia involves general risks that are often disproportionate to the intervention required. General anesthesia is therefore only an emergency solution. Afterwards, it is important to get a grip on the phobia of the dentist.
Dentist fear – medication as anxiolytic
Also, anxiolytics (tablets, injections) can reduce anxiety levels for a short time. Although they are suitable for urgent acute treatments, they do not solve the problem permanently.
An anxiolytic syringe should only be administered by the doctor. After the therapy, the patient must be supervised by a doctor for some time until the effect of the “anxiety-away injection” wears off. Some remedies may interfere with breathing and therefore require close monitoring of respiratory function.
Dentist fear – psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy has proven to be particularly effective in overcoming dental phobia.
At the beginning there is an enlightening conversation with the therapist about the fear and its reasons. The anxiety patient is then exposed to the respective fear trigger (confrontation training), for example the sound of a drill. At first, the feeling of anxiety increases, but after some time it breaks down again by itself. In this way, the patient learns to reevaluate the anxiety-laden situation.
In addition, he is taught certain distraction strategies, such as imagining something beautiful, as well as relaxation techniques such as autogenic training or special breathing exercises.
Dentist fear – hypnosis
Hypnosis is also suitable for treating a dental phobia. A dentist trained in hypnosis techniques puts the patient in a trance state. The prerequisite, however, is the willingness of the patient to fully engage in hypnosis. He learns to focus on pleasing images in his imagination. Children have a lot of imagination and a very good imagination. Therefore, special forms of hypnosis are also suitable for children.
However, hypnosis is not successful in every patient. Against a hypnotic treatment speak among other mental illnesses as well as a lack of concentration ability or imagination of the patient.
It is also not suitable for any procedure, because in some treatment steps, the cooperation of the patient is necessary.
The German Society for Dental Hypnosis e.V. (DGZH) offers a list of dental practices that perform a dental hypnosis.
Dental Fear: Disease course and prognosis
About 70 percent of people with dental anxiety use psychotherapeutic methods to learn to control their fear of the dentist. You then have them under control so well that a normal treatment is possible again. But even those who do not succeed do not have to ruin their health and social life with broken teeth.
Anti-anxiety drugs or – as a last option – general anesthesia are also ways to treat the teeth even with existing dental phobia. So it can be with everyone dental fear find a suitable strategy – also for you!