It is necessary to go to the dentist regularly to guarantee good oral health. It is not merely a matter of aesthetics but of health, so it is important. However, some phobias such as Dentophobia can cause us to postpone or even avoid going to the dentist out of fear. Or out of panic. We tell you everything about Dentophobia or fear of the dentist.
What is Dentophobia?
Dentophobia is the fear of. It is true that fear of the dentist has a very logical part because on most occasions we suffer pain, and the discomfort caused by anything that is done to our mouth is inevitable. In addition, arriving at the consultation with certain oral problems can also cause us to suffer from low self-esteem.
So far the logical and rational part of the fear of the dentist that we have all experienced at some time. But do you avoid going to the dentist even though you know your mouth is asking for a checkup? Do over and over again even knowing that this is causing you more problems? Then maybe you suffer from Dentophobia.
Symptoms of Dentophobia
Fear is the main symptom of any phobia. A fear that triggers a series of physical reactions such as uncontrolled nerves, dizziness, excessive sweating, palpitations, panic attacks or panic attacks. All this with the prospect of going to the dentist. And with this scenario, it is normal for you to try to avoid the situation or the so-called stimulus of the phobia, which in this case is going to the dentist.
But avoidance behavior can in turn cause other psychological symptoms, with low as the main problem. We all know the importance of having a healthy mouth when it comes to interacting with others, so not treating Dentophobia can end in social isolation.
Causes of Dentophobia
As we say, this one of those phobias in which the origin of the fear can be understood. Who has not experienced an unpleasant, uncomfortable and painful episode in a dental clinic? If that moment was lived with a great emotional charge, it is reason enough to consider it a traumatic experience and for the phobia to develop.
But in addition to the traumatic experience in Dentophobia, other fears come into play that arise from previous anxiety problems, from the fear of not having a healthy mouth and from that other fear of relating to others with a mouth in poor condition. Because the mouth, we remember, is what we use to eat, to smile, to kiss, to speak…
Treatment of Dentophobia
We always advise psychological therapy to overcome any phobia and in the case of Dentophobia as well. The psychologist will surely opt for cognitive behavioral therapy to eradicate that distorted thought that creates irrational fear. Once the thought is eliminated, the avoidance behavior can be modified.
But we insist that it must be done with a psychology professional. We all know, and people who suffer from Dentophobia also know, that despite the fear that it may cause, it. Avoidance comes from a mental disorder and we cannot overcome that by ourselves.
In the treatment of Dentophobia, the dentists themselves can also intervene, with empathy and offering guarantees to stop the activity if anxiety presses, administering anxiolytics on time or reassuring the patient. In the most serious cases of Dentophobia, the patient can be sedated when he goes to the dentist, but all this must, without a doubt, be accompanied by psychotherapy.