7 Facts about Dental Fears and Phobias

#dental fears

Oct 14 • 1 minute read

A picture of a routine dental exam.

Anyone who is afraid of the dentist knows it's nothing to laugh at. It can be manifested a paralyzing grip that seriously impacts people's ability to access oral healthcare. Tools such as pharmaceutical drugs and IV sedation exist to help those who experience the worst symptoms of dental phobia, and in some cases people can undergo certain therapies to ease their fears. We hope everyone gets the help they need to build a trusting relationship with a dentist who truly cares about their oral health.

To help educate people about dental fears and phobias, and in the spirit of Halloween, which is sometimes about facing fears, here are 7 facts to add to your bank of dental knowledge:

Dental fears are sometimes referred to as odontophobia, dentophobia, and dentist phobia.
According to research published in the journal Behavior Therapy, it's estimated that as many as 75% of adults in the U.S. have some level of dental fear.
It's estimated that between 5-10% of adults in the U.S. experience dental fear so powerfully that they completely avoid accessing oral healthcare at all costs.
It's estimated that somewhere between about 10% and 20% of children experience dental anxiety as adolescents, which is why we think it's so important to find a dentist your children trust.
Behavioral research indicates that most dental fears are the result of personal experiences, hearing or reading about the experiences of others, mass media portrayal of dental care, or a perceived lack of control.
A type of therapy often used to treat dental phobias is called cognitive behavioral therapy. It's a common treatment method for many anxiety disorders and phobias.
A British Dental Health Foundation survey found that about 36% of people who didn't regular see their dentists claimed fear as the reason.

Thanks for Reading!

We hope these facts taught you a little about dental fear. If you're a sufferer, please talk to your dentist about ways he or she can communicate better with you, or seek out someone who specializes in sedation dentistry to get the help you need. Don't let your oral health go downhill if you experience dental fear.

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