Dental phobia can also be termed dental fear or odontophobia, dentophobia and dental anxiety. Dental phobia is the fear of dentistry and of receiving dental care. However a distinction has been made between dental anxiety, dental fear, and dental phobia.

Dental anxiety is a reaction usually made to an unknown danger. Anxiety is extremely common, and most people have been known to experience some degree of dental anxiety especially if theyre about to experience something which theyve never experienced before. Basically, it all boils down to being fear of the unknown.

Dental fear is generally a reaction to a danger already known which involves a fight-or-flight response when confronted with the stimulus threatening the subject matter or person.

Dental phobia is basically the same as fear, the only difference is that it is much stronger. Here, the fight-or-flight response actually occurs when the individual just thinks about or gets reminded of the threatening situation. In other words, someone with a dental phobia will avoid dental care at every turn until either a physical problem or the psychological burden of the phobia becomes overwhelming.

The most common causes of dental phobia are bad experience, a history of abuse, uncaring dentists, vicarious learning and humiliation to mention but a few. The good news is that there are ways to overcome such phobia. The few ways to overcome one’s fear of visiting the dentist includes :

1. You can go to your very first visit with someone you trust, such as a close relative who has no fear of dentists. It is encouraged that friends and relatives should sit with the patient during treatment.

2. Another way you can help yourself is by seeking distraction while in the dentist’s chair. This you can do by listening to your own music on headphones preferably not one you’ve heard a lot, so you’ll be a little more interested in it. Also, you can find a dentist with a TV or other distractions available in the treatment room.

3. Another good way is you can try relaxation techniques. Sometimes controlled breathing which involves taking a big breath, holding it, and letting it out very slowly, like you are a leaky tire; helps a lot . This is because your heartbeat gets slowed down and you can easily relax your muscles. Another technique is progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in turn.

4. You can review with your dentist to know which sedatives are available or appropriate for the treatment . Options include local anesthetic, nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), oral sedatives, and intravenous sedation. While oversedation can be dangerous, too many dentists are uncomfortable using any oral sedation.

5. Lastly, If you can’t bring yourself to go to any dentist, you might try seeing a psychologist first. The most “tried and true approach” to treating dental phobia (and other phobias) is what is called “direct therapeutic exposure.” It involves introducing the patient to feared items like a needle which is done in a gradual and controlled manner.

Different Types Of Tooth Replacements Available.

In the past, it may not have mattered if people lost their teeth, especially those in the front. Never the less, attempts were made in the past to replace missing teeth, and archeological evidence suggests that indeed people in antiquity did wear “artificial” teeth,...

Getting Fluoride Treatment? Here’s What You Need To Know.

Fluoride is a natural mineral that can be found in many kinds of food and also in water. It is an important mineral that keeps tooth decay at bay. Fluoride, also the calcium in our teeth is lost through a process known as demineralisation where the enamel layer of the...

Laser Teeth Whitening Explained

In today’s world, whitening of teeth is a prevailing restorative procedure that is non-invasive and produces beautiful very attractive white teeth. When we begin to advance in age, it is logical for our teeth to darken and it is caused when the mineral structures in...

What are Dental Implants? Am I A Suitable Candidate?

Despite improvements in dental care, millions of people still suffer tooth loss either due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury/accidents. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were dental bridges and dentures....

All-on-4 Implants In Singapore: Everything You Need To Know

What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants? Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth due to tooth decay, gum disease, and dental injuries amongst others. All-on-4 dental implants are a complete set of implants meant to replace your entire row of teeth. This may apply...

Getting A Wisdom Tooth Surgery in Singapore

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Our mouth goes through many changes and the appearance of third molar i.e. wisdom tooth is a major landmark that usually takes place between the ages of 17...

What Exactly Is A Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure to replace a damaged tooth or infected pulp with a filling. Root canal therapy is performed when the pulp which is composed of nerves and blood vessels in the tooth becomes infected or damaged. It is one of the most common...

What To Look Out When Getting Tooth Fillings In Singapore

Maintaining your oral hygiene is crucial, not only for the beauty but because we all want to keep our teeth healthy. Many people unfortunately experience some form of tooth decay or cavities, maybe even more significant problems such as dental caries. With modern...

Understanding Dental Sleep Medicine & Its Purpose In Dentistry

Recently, people have considered the value of working with a dentist to manage their sleep-breathing problems, even though dental sleep medicine has been around for over three decades. It was first pursued in conjunction with other treatments (namely continuous...

Make an Appointment Today!

10 + 1 =

NoFrills Dental @ Marina Square

6 Raffles Boulevard,
Marina Square,
#B1-11
Singapore 039594

T: +65 6227 8885
E: marinasquare@nofrillsdental.com.sg

NoFrills Dental @ Suntec City

3 Temasek Boulevard 
Suntec City (North Wing)
#03-317
Singapore 038983

T: +65 6337 7319
E: suntec@nofrillsdental.com.sg

Call Us Today

+65 9007 1085

Follow Us