It is often agreed that our teeth and gums are crucial to our general health. On the other hand, fear of the dentist in Honolulu, HI, may be just as expected. This phobia is frequent and has various causes, including anxiety regarding dental health and previous negative experiences at the dentist.
Dentophobia (or odontophobia) is a sort of dental anxiety that affects some people. Just as other phobias are described as an illogical fear of specific things or situations, dentophobia is also an irrational fear of seeing the dentist.
Anxiety vs. phobia
“fear” and “phobia” are frequently used interchangeably, yet important distinctions exist between the two mental states. Fear can be a powerful aversion that leads to avoidance, but it is not something you will likely give much thought to until the object you fear appears.
A phobia, on the other hand, is an extreme sort of anxiety. Phobias are a form of anxiety disorder characterized by irrational fear of specific situations or objects.
Another hallmark of a phobia is an irrational fear of something that poses little danger but which the phobic individual cannot shake.
Causes
Having had a bad encounter at the dentist is a common source of dental phobia. Maybe you had a bad experience at the dentist as a kid, and that fear never disappeared.
Some people get anxious just thinking about the loud tools dentists and dental hygienists use to clean and examine patients’ teeth.
There are many reasons to be afraid of the dentist, including prior negative experiences and present worries about the state of one’s teeth. Maybe you have been putting off going to the dentist because you are in pain, your gums are bleeding, or you are worried about what you might hear.
Advice for maintaining composure
The following advice can help you remain calm throughout your dental visit, whether you plan to confront your phobia head-on or engage in exposure therapy to overcome it progressively.
- Go in the morning when the dentist’s office is less likely to be crowded. There will be fewer people, and the noise from machines should be reduced. The longer you wait to see the dentist, the more time your worries have to grow.
- To help you unwind, bring some headphones or earbuds with some music.
- Bring a loved one or trusted friend with you to your appointment.
- If you are feeling anxious, try some meditation techniques like deep breathing.
Maintaining good dental health is crucial to your overall health. However, if someone has a severe phobia of dentists, this may not be enough to get them to the dentist. However, putting off visits to the dentist will only increase the dread you feel about going. Dentophobia can be managed with a variety of techniques.
