Dentophobia also called odontophobia is a fear of the dentist. People with this specific phobia feel anxious when they think about going to the dentist or actually visit the dentist. Past negative experiences, family history or feeling a loss of control can lead to dentophobia.
What is the difference between dentophobia (fear of dentists) and severe fear of dental treatment?
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. Severe fear of dental treatment involves feelings of distress , but will likely still see their dentist for treatment, unlike those with dentophobia.
What does a person with dentophobia fear?
Someone with dentophobia may be afraid of:
- Anesthetic
- Blood
- Choking
- The dentist
- Feeling pain
- Needles
- Noise
- Smells
What other phobias are associated with dentophobia?
- Algophobia, a fear of pain.
- Emetophobia, a fear of vomiting.
- Haphephobia, a fear of being touched.
- Iatrophobia, a fear of doctors.
- Trypanophobia, a fear of needles.
What are the causes of dentophobia?
- Family history
- Feeling embarrassed
- Feeling helpless
- Past negative experiences
What are dentophobia symptoms?
- Chills.
- Dizziness and lightheadedness.
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).
- Heart palpitations.
- Nausea.
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Trembling or shaking.
- Upset stomach or indigestion (dyspepsia).
What are dentophobia treatments?
- Learn breathing and muscle relaxation techniques to use before and during an exposure.
- View images or videos of people visiting the dentist.
- Gradually progress to visiting a dentist’s office without getting treatment.
- Have a cleaning or checkup with the hygienist or dentist.
What are the complications of dentophobia?
Severe dentophobia often results in poor oral health when people don’t visit the dentist. Poor oral health can lead to:
- Complications from diabetes.
- Decayed teeth.
- Gum (periodontal) disease.
- Heart disease (coronary artery disease).
- Missing teeth.
- Pneumonia and respiratory infections.
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