Dental fear ( also known as dental phobia , odontophobia ,dentophobia , dentist phobia or dental anxiety ) is quite common among general population . The term “phobia” or“anxiety” is used only when the patient shows excessive or unreasonable level of fear . Such patients go extra lengths just to avoid visiting a dentist and will only come for emergency reasons .
But why do people develop such high level of reluctance towards dental clinics ? What is the root cause of such behavior ? Dental phobia patients show classic avoidance behavior . They will give unreasonable excuses and exhibit intense irrational behavior to avoid dental check-up . Reasons why :
Direct Experience
Major cause of dental phobia comes from unpleasant past experiences . Uncaring or uninterested behavior of the previous dentist or any traumatic experience while undergoing a dental procedure in the past ignites the phobia in a patient .
Indirect Experience
These experiences develop from the information one perceives from his/her surroundings . Factors that influence :
Vicarious Learning – Idea people develop from other’s experiences
Mass Media – Negative portrayal of dentistry in media or cartoons
Stimulus Generalization – Negative experiences developed from doctors in general hospitals may lead to fear of white coats or antiseptic smells
Lack Of Control – Another thing that a patient sitting on a dental chair fears the most is helplessness . People tend to be fearful of a negative event that they have no control over and hence fear dental procedures since they cannot see what exactly is happening i.e. fear of the unknown .
Some signs that dental phobia patients show :
- Trouble sleeping at night
- Extreme nervousness in a dental office
- Feeling ill at the very thought of visiting a dentist
- Uneasy feeling or breathlessness when instruments are placed in the mouth
- Become tense during a check-up
Treatment for dental anxiety/phobia ?
We have now a number of methods to deal with dental phobia .But firstly , it is a patient’s duty to tell the dentist about his phobia .
Behavior Management
It should be understood that a particular behavior is rational if the patient had suffered before . Such patients can treated with “look , see , do” technique , where the patients are made fully aware of the procedures that are to be performed . They are told about each step , the tools that are to be used and how it will bring results . The patient may be asked to raise hand in case of discomfort so that the dentist stops immediately or given brief intervals to relax . A combination of systemic desensitization and cognitive reconstructing is used to ease the patient .
Pharmacological Technique
Pharmacological methods , from mild sedation to general anesthesia (conscious sedation), are often used in conjunction with behavioral management . The patient remains calm and drowsy but is still conscious enough to communicate with the dentist .
Lastly , family and peer support is important for a patient’s motivation to get a treatment . Dental anxiety can be very well treated without any complications.
website visit for more information :
But why do people develop such high level of reluctance towards dental clinics ? What is the root cause of such behavior ? Dental phobia patients show classic avoidance behavior . They will give unreasonable excuses and exhibit intense irrational behavior to avoid dental check-up . Reasons why :
Direct Experience
Major cause of dental phobia comes from unpleasant past experiences . Uncaring or uninterested behavior of the previous dentist or any traumatic experience while undergoing a dental procedure in the past ignites the phobia in a patient .
Indirect Experience
These experiences develop from the information one perceives from his/her surroundings . Factors that influence :
Vicarious Learning – Idea people develop from other’s experiences
Mass Media – Negative portrayal of dentistry in media or cartoons
Stimulus Generalization – Negative experiences developed from doctors in general hospitals may lead to fear of white coats or antiseptic smells
Lack Of Control – Another thing that a patient sitting on a dental chair fears the most is helplessness . People tend to be fearful of a negative event that they have no control over and hence fear dental procedures since they cannot see what exactly is happening i.e. fear of the unknown .
Some signs that dental phobia patients show :
- Trouble sleeping at night
- Extreme nervousness in a dental office
- Feeling ill at the very thought of visiting a dentist
- Uneasy feeling or breathlessness when instruments are placed in the mouth
- Become tense during a check-up
Treatment for dental anxiety/phobia ?
We have now a number of methods to deal with dental phobia .But firstly , it is a patient’s duty to tell the dentist about his phobia .
Behavior Management
It should be understood that a particular behavior is rational if the patient had suffered before . Such patients can treated with “look , see , do” technique , where the patients are made fully aware of the procedures that are to be performed . They are told about each step , the tools that are to be used and how it will bring results . The patient may be asked to raise hand in case of discomfort so that the dentist stops immediately or given brief intervals to relax . A combination of systemic desensitization and cognitive reconstructing is used to ease the patient .
Pharmacological Technique
Pharmacological methods , from mild sedation to general anesthesia (conscious sedation), are often used in conjunction with behavioral management . The patient remains calm and drowsy but is still conscious enough to communicate with the dentist .
Lastly , family and peer support is important for a patient’s motivation to get a treatment . Dental anxiety can be very well treated without any complications.
website visit for more information :
| http://www.dentalbhaji.com/ |
