Does your heart race at the sound of the dentist’s drill? You are surely part of the 33%* of French people who fear entering the door of a dental office. The thought of pain often even leads to canceling or postponing a medical appointment. However, neglecting your oral care increases the risk of developing cavities and gum disease, or even more serious infections. Where does this fear of the dentist come from and what techniques allow you to relax before a consultation ? Discover the mechanisms of dentophobia and ways to relieve it in this article.
Understanding the vicious cycle of stomatophobia
What causes anxiety during a medical visit to the dental office?
Many factors can cause stress when approaching a consultation. The fear of the dentist is anchored in the collective unconscious with the image of the tooth puller or through pictorial and cinematographic works. Dentistry techniques evolved a lot since the time when teeth were extracted in front of an audience during a theatrical performance and without anesthesia. The drill has been abandoned in favor of quieter tools and advanced dental surgeon training.
Anticipation of pain remains the main vector of anxiety in dentistry . A dental past experienced as traumatic, particularly during childhood, could anchor an unpleasant memory. The senses also play a major role since the smell of products or the sound of instruments arouse negative emotions. Finally, the environment, with the waiting room, can contribute to a feeling of discomfort in a patient who is already alert and concerned about future care.
How do patients’ anxieties regarding oral care manifest?
Fear of the dentist induces hormonal activation that stimulates certain organs and inhibits others. Physiological signs include :
an increase in respiratory rate and dilation of the bronchi.
Body language also conveys its share of clues about your anxious state. The look, vector of emotions, often reflects the apprehension felt in the chair. The facial expression is revealing, as are the hands gripping the armrests. Sudden gestures, sometimes uncontrolled, show serious concern. Among the cognitive effects , hyperactivity, the inability to put procedures into perspective or the fact of bombarding the practitioner with questions indicate anxiety. A trembling voice, stuttering or rapid speech also indicate detectable discomfort.
What are the consequences of a dentist phobia on oral hygiene?
The fear of a dental office visit leads patients to postpone their appointments. However, these cancellations are not the result of optimal oral health. If care is not taken to preserve the well-being of the teeth , problems may appear or worsen. A simple cavity can develop into a toothache or lead to an abscess.
Delaying treatment increases the worsening of symptoms and treatments focused on the pain rather than their causes, as well as self-medication. This vicious cycle was highlighted in the study exploring the links between dental hygiene and anxiety by Jason M Armfield, Judy F Stewart and A John Spencer.
In addition, negative emotions such as shame or guilt can paralyze the patient who has postponed his consultations. The deterioration of oral health therefore becomes an additional reason for not pursuing care. SM Cohen, J Fiske and JT Newton revealed that dental anxiety has a significant impact on daily life . In addition to disrupting sleep, it can hinder your professional and personal social relationships.
However, solutions exist to reduce anxiety-provoking stimulation and make you want to visit your dentist!
Overcoming fear of the dentist with virtual reality
Defusing panic attacks: relaxation techniques that relieve fear of the dentist
Using music therapy to relax in the operating chair
Sounds are a vector of tension or serenity. As we have seen, the dental environment can cause discomfort because of the noises that characterize it. In order to divert your attention from these notes, music therapy occupies the hearing to bring about greater well-being .
Music has healing and calming properties . Its impact on the emotionality of listeners can thus lead to deep relaxation. The work of Maurice Gabai and Jacques Jost is revealing on the soothing effect of auditory stimulation. In odontostomatology, this therapeutic approach takes on its full meaning to create a safe space and promote relaxation. A victim of intense emotional value, it raises the barriers of verbal language and releases muscular tensions.
Practicing hypnosis throughout the consultation with a dental surgeon
It was the Scottish doctor J. Braid who introduced the technique of hypnosis to France through the fixation of shiny objects in 1841. Its main application was hypnoanalgesia and developed in the middle of the 19th century. This state of conscious trance is achieved through suggestions.
The patient, awake throughout the process, is invited by mental images and indications from the practitioner to relax. Your attention then focuses on your inner world and no longer on external stimuli. Dentists trained in hypnosis thus lead to a modified state of consciousness in order to better experience oral care .
Try acupuncture to release nervous tension
Coming from a branch of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture stimulates certain points of the body in order to restore the circulation of energy. Needles are thus placed on precise locations in order to eliminate blockages and restore balance.
According to a study conducted by the medical journal European Journal of Integrative Medicine, acupuncture can treat dental anxiety . Researchers from the University of York in the United Kingdom analyzed six therapeutic trials involving 800 patients. Using a points scale, they were able to observe a significant reduction in stress . Although further research is needed, these initial results present acupuncture as a relevant accompaniment treatment to calm down and overcome the fear of the dentist.
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