Why Do People Get Dentophobia?

By Author: Tiffany Wilson
Total Articles: 14
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There are more or less 500 identified phobias. Dentophobia (or what is commonly known as fear of dentists) is just one of the hundreds that plague the human mind. Nonetheless, it makes one curious as to what kinds of factors can cause a perfectly normal human being to fear unassuming dentists. Of course, one explanation to this is trauma. Trauma is present in almost any other phobia. But there are also other factors to be considered. The good thing is that this can be overcome by seeking professional help. Therapy sessions and medication can is if not conquer this particular fear of dentists and, in some occasions, dental clinics.

Trauma

As previously mentioned, trauma is the most common factor in any phobia. Dentophobia, in particular, can give our several scenarios. It can be an accident—something upsetting to bring up like a malpractice in dental surgery, ending up in a lot of blood and screams. You can just imagine how the malpractice went. It can be something more childish. A more generalized fear of doctors or anyone in white robes perhaps. One cause can also be a terrifying encounter with a terror dentist ...
... at the age of 7.

Pain

This can be a specific pain—they do not like the feel of tooth uprooted from the gums. Or they do not like the idea of having to endure a drill leaving a hole in their tooth. The latter example is in the case of a root canal surgery. This can also be a more generalized fear of pain, also known as agliophobia. If it is the former, dentists can give their patients ways or tips to overcome this anxiety. Medications such as anesthesia can also be applied. If it is the latter, the same process of seeking professional help and therapy can be utilized.

Parental influence

Phobias, like traits, values, and principles, can be passed on to the next generation. This fear of dentists may have been instilled—planted—by one’s parents at an early age (some of them unconsciously done). Parents have such great influence to their children that even their behavior toward things are taken in and digested, embraced as their children’s own. On the other hand, the parents may have consciously (and, perhaps, forcefully) made their children fear dentists—just like them. This is kind of twisted when you think about it. But it is a possible scenario.

Observations

Speaking of twisted behavior, here is another possibility. They do not have any trauma. There are no phobias of pain either. Surely, they are also not influenced by anyone. No, they develop dentophobia just by observing other people who are afflicted by it. They have a certain kind of empathy. It can be that they have witnessed first-hand the anxiety and raw fear of someone who has dentophobia. It is also possible that they have developed this fear just by seeing a documentary on dental surgery. There are endless perhaps and maybes. The mind is a very complex organ. It can be triggered by the smallest of things.

Tiffany Wilson is a dental clinic Washington DC assistant for how many years now. Dental clinic Washington DC is known for their honest and quality dental services all over the region.