• Are you resisting on not visiting a dentist even in pain

• Are you disturbed by the sounds of the tools and equipment used by your dentist?

• Are you bothered by the thought that tools used may not be sterile?

• Are you afraid of getting a shot?

Visiting the dentist is an avoided and even intimidating situation for most people. The reason for that is mostly bad memories (mainly in childhood) , bitter experiences and impressions.

Dental phobia psychologically involves the fear of visiting the dentist, dislike of dentistry and the irrational fears one creates in his own imagination.

Dental phobia is a more serious problem than the usual fear of the dentist. Avoidance from visiting the dentist is the most typical reaction of a dentophobic. Even though this seems to be a solution, rather than offering a solution, it redoubles the duration and costs of the treatment , so it makes the problem even more unavoidable. Therefore, dental treatments are one of the most neglected and postponed health issues.

6%-14% of the world population avoid visiting the dentists only because of fear. On the basis of this anxiety lies the prominent fear of needles and pain. Anaesthesia is the first condition for a painless treatment and making both the dentist and the patient feel psychologically comfortable. Therefore, the anxiety of pain vanishes, which enables a more successful treatment in a quite shorter notice. Developing technology offers various alternatives in order to help patients feel no pain. Laser technology provides a needle-free and no-anaesthesia work in minor procedures, which is why it’s a preferred way of treatment for every dentophobic patient of all ages.

The majority of dentophobic patients are the ones who have gone through some accidents on the dental chair or who have had bitter experiences on it. Therefore, the anxiety for a repetition of such experience causes the continuity of fear and there appears the dental fear.

Also, the idea of being in a horizontal position on the dental chair, the hands and tools being in the mouth( especially rotating tools which are commonly used in dentistry), tools being unsterile; fears of needles, catching contagious diseases such as the HIV and hepatitis are acceptable concerns. The patient might have reasonable justifications for such fears. Dentists preferred, hygiene of the environment, sterilization and disinfection of the tools and equipment used are crucial in overcoming the dental phobia.

Also, the dentist could use the developing technology to relax the patient and motivating the patient on the treatment, he could minimize the fear.

SIMPL E SOLUTIONS FOR DENTAL PHOBIA

The first step to take is to mention about the dental phobia while getting an appointment. This step will enable your appointment to be set for the most appropriate time and made more available for both the dentist and the patient.

The second step to take is the patient’s talking to his dentist about his phobia frankly. Why is the patient dentophobic and what could be made to overcome it? The procedure being explained to the patient on each step, mutual decisions are made about the precautions and potential changes during the procedure will provide quite a benefit to overcome the fear.

Besides the dentist’s and the assistants’ soft contact, warm and cosy attitude towards the patient, sedative speeches will also help to overcome the stress. The patient is told about the each step of the procedure and asked to raise his/her hand in case of any pain. Therefore, the patient could be guaranteed on the termination of the operation in case of pain and be eased.

To familiarize especially the children with dentists, it is recommended that they are taken to the dentist at early ages. In this way, dental office environment and tools used in dentistry are introduced with various games and the child spends a painless and fearless day..

As we all know, we, as recommended, should visit our dentist in every 6 months and get an oral-dental examination to have a healthy smile. It’s a necessary procedure for both our dental health and our other organs’ health.

On the basis of dental phobia, not only the misfortunes and complications but stories about bad dentistry, some fear- intensifying films and caricatures could also play negative roles. As such reasons prevent people from visiting the dentist, there occur greater problems and it extends the duration of the treatment and the exposure of it.

As every phobia, dentophobia is also based on inaccurate learnings and bad experience which can be overcome. You should take the first step before it’s too late and visit a dentist…

Wishing you fearless and healthy days…

Sevgi Dental Clinic - ÇORLU

Dt. Kemal KAVUT