The Case of Dental Phobia in the UK
The British Dental Association stated that around 12% of the British population are suffering from severe anxiety, and at least 25% have some sort of fear before visiting the dentist. Even though visiting the dentist is beneficial, around 1 in 23 people in the UK (2.5 million) fears them.
London dentist Dr. Jennifer Pinder told BBC.com, â€œâ€Ś phobias are actually a rational reaction to pain and fear.â€? People are often embarrassed about it to the point that they avoid visiting the dentist all together, even when they need emergency services for their cracked, broken, or chipped teeth.
Are Dental Phobias All the Same?
According to DentalPhobia.co.uk, dentophobia is only a generic fear. People who have it could be suffering from specific phobias that are triggering this condition. Here are some examples:
1. Fear of Needles – Some patients aren’t afraid of dentists themselves; it’s the tools they use. Needles are needed in some dental procedures.
2. Fear of Being Embarrassed – Some patients feel violated when somebody stares at them (or their mouth) for a long time, while others simply do not want to know the condition of their teeth because they would feel more conscious on their next visit.
3. Fear of Anaesthetic – Under local anaesthetic, patients fear that they would feel extreme pain when the effect wears off. This fear may also involve sedation.
4. Fear of Numbness – A dental visit becomes scary for patients who think that they cannot control pain during the procedure or cannot call out to anybody if they feel helpless. 5. Fear of Choking – Dentists use small tools to clean the teeth or keep the mouth open, which make some patients uneasy. They fear that these might go directly inside their throat
Dental phobia is not only a problem in the UK; it is common around the world. This is why many dentists today are finding ways to offer the most comfortable procedures for patients, helping them with their oral health whilst also protecting them from their dental fear.
Sources: http://www.dentalphobia.co.uk/casestudies/fear-visit.html http://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/sundry/my-fear-of-the-dentist http://www.cheadlehulmedental.com/emergency_dentistry.php