But for some people, such fears can come in the form of
dentophobia
(also called odontophobia). Like other phobias, this is defined as an extreme or irrational fear to objects, situations, or people — in this case, dentophobia is the extreme fear of going to the dentist.
What is Dentofobia?
The definition of Dentophobia
In simple terms, Dentophobia is
a fear of visiting the dentist
. Many patients do get slightly nervous when it comes to visiting, but this is a different situation.
What phobia is fear of dentists?
Causes of
Dentophobia
There are many terms used to classify the idea of a dental phobia. It can be known as dental fear, dental anxiety, dentist phobia, odontophobia, or dentophobia. They all mean the same thing: an intense fear of visiting the dentist for dental care.
How do I overcome my fear of the dentist?
- speak to your dentist and explain your feelings, you can then work together to make your visit as relaxed as possible.
- pro-active breathing and relaxation techniques, these can help to calm your nerves and distract you from any procedures.
What causes odontophobia?
The most common ones include:
Past traumatic dental experiences
.
A history of abuse outside of dentistry
may also trigger dental phobia. Parents or guardians who are also afraid of dentists can pass that fear to their children.
What do dentists hate the most?
- “ I hate the dentist” …
- Repeatedly no-showing or being late. …
- Chatting during procedures. …
- Complaining about and comparing costs. …
- Waiting until it’s an emergency. …
- Melodramatics. …
- Smartphone addicts. …
- Not listening.
What is Dystychiphobia?
Dystychiphobia is
the excessive fear of having an accident
.
What is Ablutophobia?
Ablutophobia is the
overwhelming fear of bathing, cleaning, or washing
. It’s an anxiety disorder that falls under the category of specific phobias. Specific phobias are irrational fears centered around a particular situation. They can disrupt your life.
What does Trypanophobia mean?
What is trypanophobia? Fittingly, the name combines the Greek term trypano — meaning puncturing or piercing — with phobia, meaning
fear
. This remarkably common condition is marked by irrational, extreme fear or aversion to blood or needles.
What is Lepidopterophobia?
Lepidopterophobia is
the fear of butterflies or moths
. While some people may have a mild fear of these insects, a phobia is when you have an excessive and irrational fear that interferes with your daily life. Lepidoterophobia is pronounced lep-ah-dop-ter-a-pho-bee-ah.
What’s the most painful dental procedure?
Root canals
have a long history of being viewed as the most painful and negative dental procedure. Inaccurate information or fear-mongering over others’ experiences may have given them a bad reputation. Here are some facts and myths about root canals to ease your fears.
Will the dentist put me to sleep if I ask?
The short answer to this question is ‘
Yes
‘, your dentist can put you to sleep for treatment. However, a technique known as ‘conscious sedation’ has replaced general anaesthesia in modern dentistry.
What is Olfactophobia?
Osmophobia or olfactophobia refers to
a fear, aversion, or psychological hypersensitivity to odors
. The phobia generally occurs in chronic migraine sufferers who may have odor triggered migraines.
How common is odontophobia?
Dental anxiety and fear are common. It’s officially called odontophobia, and it affects
nearly 30% of the adult population and 43% of children
. But why? Negative experiences in childhood is the most common cause of dental fear.
Is dental fear real?
Dental anxiety is a term used to describe
fear, anxiety or stress in a dental setting
. Being scared to visit the dentist can result in delaying or avoiding dental treatment. Dental anxiety can be associated with certain triggers such as needles, drills or the dental setting in general.
Do dentists lie about cavities?
A cavity is a cavity and there should be no difference between two dentists, right? The
answer is not always
. Unfortunately, a cavity can be deceptive. It can hide and be obscured by old fillings, location, or just not be obvious by eye or X-ray.
