Dentophobia is a type of specific phobia disorder. A specific situation (going to the dentist) leads to a fearful response.
What is a phobia?
Phobias are a kind of anxiety disorder. They lead to excessive fear of an event or situation that isn’t actually harmful.
Dentophobia is a type of specific phobia disorder. A specific situation (going to the dentist) leads to a fearful response.
Dentophobia is an extreme fear that’s out of proportion to the situation. People with dentophobia avoid seeing the dentist even when they’re in pain. This condition is so severe that it can lead to very poor dental health. These problems may affect a person’s relationships or job prospects, too.
Severe fear of dental treatment involves feelings of distress, but these feelings aren’t as extreme as dentophobia. People with dental anxiety worry a lot about pain or stress at the dentist, but will likely still see their dentist for treatment, unlike those with dentophobia.
What does a person with dentophobia fear?
Anesthetic: People usually aren’t fearful of getting an anesthetic (numbing drug), but instead, fear the anesthetic not working. Some people fear side effects of the anesthetic, such as temporary numbness of their lips.
Blood: Some people have a fear of blood (hemophobia). They may feel afraid or panicky about the possibility or actual presence of even minor bleeding that can happen during a dental procedure.
Choking: People may fear gagging or choking when the dentist numbs their mouth. They may fear not being able to breathe or swallow.
The dentist: People may associate negative feelings with their dentist. These feelings may be worse if they’ve had a bad experience with a dentist in the past.
Feeling pain: Dental procedures fairly often involve a small amount of pain. And sometimes, the procedure or recovery does hurt. People who’re highly sensitive to pain may be more fearful of feeling discomfort during their dental treatment or as a result of it.
Needles: People afraid of needles may fear the injections dentists use during dental procedures.
Noise: Someone may fear the noise made by drills and dental instruments used by the dentist or dental hygienist.
Smells: People may become anxious due to how the dentist’s office smells or the specific aromas that arise during dental treatment.
How can I find out if my child has dental phobia?
A constant fear of the dentist can be extremely upsetting for your child. If your child is very young, it may be difficult for them to verbalize what’s wrong.
If severe fear of the dentist greatly impacts your child’s life, your child’s healthcare provider or dentist may recommend they visit a mental health professional. This healthcare provider can look at your child’s symptoms, offer a diagnosis and help you form a treatment plan.
