Many of us dread going to the dentist. In fact, it’s normal to have some amount of anxiety. Ironically, when I was a child I was scared of the dentist too, because of a particularly painful procedure that I had.
But for some of us, the anxiety and fear may be debilitating to the point that we try to avoid visiting the dentist and seeking treatment even when it becomes necessary.
What is Dentophobia?
Dentophobia or odontophobia refers to the fear of dentists, dental treatment and procedures. People who suffer from phobias usually try to avoid situations that may trigger the phobia. Hence, while dentophobia is reasonably common and affects people of all ages, it can cause many problems when it comes to a person’s oral health. In this article, we discuss what triggers dentophobia and how you can overcome it with a little bit of help from us.Reasons for dentophobia
So when it comes to going to the dentist and getting oral problems fixed, what exactly are people afraid of? To overcome dentophobia and make it easier for us to help you, you need to identify what you are fearful of and why. Here are some commonly seen reasons for dentophobia:-
Fear of injections and needles

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Fear of the pain during and post-treatment
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Fear of the sounds
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Previous traumatic experiences
Ways to overcome dentophobia: Tips to stay calm
A phobia can have a troubling impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing, and cause stress and anxiety levels to rise. Given the importance of oral care to your overall health, finding coping mechanisms and techniques to overcome dentophobia is extremely essential. Here are some tips:-
Choose the right dentist
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Use distraction techniques

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Talk to your dentist before the procedure
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Discuss pain management options
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Choose a less crowded time