Professional Documents
Culture Documents
D
ental fear, in keeping with other specific pho- fear.2-7 A limitation that should be borne in mind in
bias, involves intense fear of a specific ob- light of this is that almost all clinical studies have
ject or situation. However, dental fear is in been performed with selected samples of individu-
many respects atypical. In contrast to many other als seeking special care because of dental fear and
phobias, sufferers subject themselves to regular and avoidance. Our knowledge about the larger group of
repeated exposure to threatening stimuli, or may be fearful individuals with regular dental care is lim-
expected to do so. In addition, compared to most other ited. Thus, it is assumed (but not established) that
specific phobias, avoiding the feared situation in there is a difference in degree and quality, but still a
many cases leads to significant negative conse- significant similarity between problems experienced
quences. For the truly phobic individual, it is com- by fearful individuals with regular and irregular den-
mon for a vicious cycle to develop in which fear leads tal care.
to avoidance of dentists, resulting in neglected den-
tal care, increased awareness of these unmet needs,
and feelings of shame. These factors give rise to nega-
tive social effects and hence to increased anxiety.1
Scope of the Problem
Another important factor is that the dentist and aux- From a patient’s point of view, the obvious ef-
iliaries are also affected by patients’ anxiety: the per- fect of high dental fear is the inability to undergo
formance of dental care may be hampered, giving ordinary dental treatment. However, as mentioned
rise to occupational stress. When considering the im- above, fairly large proportions of fearful individuals
portance of treating dental fear, all of these aspects seek dental treatment on a regular basis, but with an
should be taken into account. increased incidence of canceled appointments.3,7 At
However, it should be emphasized that a re- the dentist’s office, fearful patients report experiences
view of the research literature does not provide a of pain7-9 and ineffective local anesthesia.10 Com-
complete picture. Although up to 40 percent of the monly, fear of specific treatments (drilling, extrac-
adult population admit to being fearful of dental treat- tions, and root-canal treatments) or instruments (sy-
ment, only 3 percent to 5 percent can be said to be ringe, explorer), and a feeling of lack of control or
truly phobic or to have a debilitating high level of