Putting the patient at ease

Dental anxiety is more common than you might think, and something you will undoubtedly come across with your patients in practice. Dentophobia is a new term coined to define a strong fear and apprehension of going to the dentist. It’s so common there’s even a website devoted to it, www.dentalphobia.co.uk.

According to the website, a whopping 53 per cent of people in the UK suffer from some kind of fear or anxiety when it comes to a trip to the dentist. Furthermore, 17 per cent have such bad dental phobia that they will, “Completely avoid the dentist to their own detriment and suffering.” A 2020 systematic review with meta-analyses found that one in five children globally may suffer from dental anxiety. Whether dental anxiety stems from a fear of choking, dental instruments, the dental environment itself, injections, pain, or the dreaded dentist drill, it’s all too real for some people and may often be a conditioned response.