Patients can experience a wide spectrum of feelings regarding dental health care, which can range from mild anxiety to intense fear or full-blown phobia. National surveys reveal that around 36% of patients experience moderate dental anxiety, and 12% of adults are classified as having extreme dental anxiety, which presents quite a significant challenge.
The sights, smells and sounds of practice can also trigger anxiety in some cases, and the sound of the drill or the sight of instruments such as needles can be particularly disturbing. Some patients cite painful or distressing past experiences as the cause of dental trauma, while anxious patients frequently have exaggerated pain expectancies and pain perception.
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