The fear of dentists is a universal condition that is troubling many people around the world.
The main result of dentophobia is usually very poor dental health, which can impact one’s quality of life as well as their overall wellbeing.
But why are people afraid of dentists? Let’s find out what triggers this irrational fear.
First Dentist Appointment
Humans are conditioned to be afraid of pain. That’s one of the most basic survival mechanisms we have.
The first signs of dental problems and the first toothache can be traumatic, especially since they happen at a very young age. That being said, going for that first dentist appointment can define whether someone develops dentophobia or not.
If the dentist in question isn’t delicate and careful, their young patient could easily make a mental connection between dentists and pain.
Once that relation is formed at a young age, it is difficult to sort out later in life, resulting in a lifelong fear of going to the dentist.
Lack of Control
Our teeth are essential for our quality of life. Without them, we’re limited in what type of food we can eat and how often we can eat.
According to this article, Tannlegeskrekk – Angst for å gå til tannlegen | Vinterbro Tannlegesenter, maintaining your teeth isn’t always enough to keep everything in order.
Sometimes your dental health is dictated by other factors that are out of your control — factors such as genetics, various dental conditions, and more.
With that said, most people feel like they are in control as far as their teeth go. They brush their teeth, floss, take care of their gum and do everything right.
For some, that feeling of being in control is shattered when they have to visit a dentist.
Dental trouble means relinquishing control over one of the most sensitive parts of your body and letting a professional get in there with pneumatic tools.
Not everyone is capable of doing that. In fact, how many people do you know who visit a dentist every 6 months? Not many, right? Even though seeing your dentist twice a year is highly recommended.
Specificity of Dental Tools
Those who aren’t inherently afraid of dentists can be distraught by the nature of tools used in an average dental center as well.
Pneumatic drills are loud, produce a very unsettling type of noise, and are uncomfortable to bear even if there’s no pain involved. Additionally, larger drill bits cause a lot of vibration, which many people find scary.
Handling Fear
Being afraid is a normal human reaction. However, it’s how you handle that fear that will have the most impact on your life.
Modern dental care is 99% painless thanks to advanced local and general aesthetics used in the industry.
Most dentists are professionals who take great care in makings sure that their patients are comfortable and pain-free.
At the end of the day, you also have to accept the fact that postponing dealing with dental issues is only going to make things exponentially worse.
Those who are afraid of dentists need to work on handling their fear, either through rational thinking or through therapy.