Links to this page may be made without permission. All material on this page © 1996-2021 Stephen Chrisomalis. Please consult a major dictionary before e-mailing your query. Please note that I am not able to respond to all requests. If you have any corrections, additions, or comments, please contact me. I hope you have found this site to be useful. Others may feel self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth or possible mouth odors.Fear of itching or of insects causing itchingįear of peanut butter sticking to roof of mouthįear of heights or being close to tall buildingsįear of performing fear of certain places Many people feel uncomfortable about the physical closeness of the dentist or hygienist to their face. It's common for people to feel these emotions considering the situation - sitting in a dental chair with your mouth wide open, unable to see what's going on.Įmbarrassment and loss of personal space. Others don't like the numbness or 'fat lip' associated with local anesthetics.įeelings of helplessness and loss of control. Some people fear the potential side effects of anesthesia such as dizziness, feeling faint, or nausea. Beyond this fear, others fear that the anesthesia hasn't yet taken effect or wasn't a large enough dose to eliminate any pain before the dental procedure begins.įear of anesthetic side effects. Many people are terrified of needles, especially when inserted into their mouth. Thanks to the many advances in dentistry made over the years, most of today's dental procedures are considerably less painful or even pain-free.įear of injections or fear the injection won't work. This fear usually stems from an early dental experience that was unpleasant or painful or from dental 'pain and horror' stories told by others. Fear of pain is a very common reason for avoiding the dentist. There are many reasons why some people have dental phobia and anxiety. Intense uneasiness at the thought of, or actually when, objects are placed in your mouth during the dental treatment or suddenly feeling like it is difficult to breatheįortunately, there are ways to get people with dental anxiety and dental phobia to the dentist.Crying or feeling physically ill at the very thought of visiting the dentist.Feelings of nervousness that escalate while in the dental office waiting room.Trouble sleeping the night before the dental exam.Because of fear, the likelihood that this will happen, even increases slightly: the patient involuntarily strains the muscles during intramuscular. Fear that the needle of the syringe will break during the procedure and remain in the body. Pathologic anxiety or phobia may require psychiatric consultation in some cases. Pathological fear differs from typical and more normative experiences by cueing a fear network that incorporates exaggerated emotional responses that are. Pathological fear of pricking, called 'trypanophobia', is observed in both adults and children. People with dental phobia usually go to the dentist only when forced to do so by extreme pain. They exhibit classic avoidance behavior that is, they will do everything possible to avoid going to the dentist. People with dental phobia have an awareness that the fear is totally irrational, but are unable to do much about it. It leaves people panic-stricken and terrified.

Indeed, it is a universal phenomenon.ĭental phobia is a more serious condition than anxiety.

Between 9% and 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear. If you fear going to the dentist, you are not alone.

Pathological fear of needles