Fear of the dentist

The drill, the pain, the feeling of being at the mercy - very few people like to put an appointment at the dentist on their calendar: 60 percent of Germans feel uncomfortable or are afraid of the treatment. According to the German Society for Dental Phobia (DGZP), around five million people are even terrified of the dentist. With them, just the thought of the smells, devices and noises triggers physical symptoms: palpitations , nausea, tremors , sweats and cramps. This can lead to those affected avoiding the visit altogether. You still make check-ups, but then cancel them and at some point don't go to the dentist at all.   smarttechnofy

This starts a vicious circle: the condition of the teeth deteriorates, small problems become big - and fear grows with them. Over time, a widespread and quite normal fear of dentists can develop into a real dentist phobia, also known as oral phobia, fear of dentists or dental phobia. The World Health Organization (WHO) counts the panic fear of the dentist and dental treatment among the so-called specific phobias.

Many of those affected find it difficult to face their fear. To avoid the panic in front of the dentist, they accept damage to their gums and teeth. Pain and feelings of shame because of the mostly neglected teeth and bad breath lead to their withdrawal from social life. Some even develop mental illnesses such as depression.  smoothtechi

Causes and Reasons for Dental Fear

Bad experiences of your own are usually the trigger for fear of the dentist. Pain during treatment, shortness of breath, anxiety, anxiety and other negative sensations, such as the thought of being at the mercy of the doctor - all of this can be memorized and these feelings will be recalled the next time you visit the dentist. Often times, the mere idea of ​​a dentist appointment causes shortness of breath, palpitations and sweats. Psychologists then speak of conditioning.

Until the late 1980s, it was common not to numb children during dental work. Many have therefore saved a visit to the dentist as painful even in adulthood.

Even people who have not yet had a bad experience at the dentist can become anxious patients. Then mostly the horror stories of others are to blame.  mucommucation

Bad teeth

The longer it has been since the last visit to the dentist, the greater the fear of the next treatment in phobics. Even harmless teeth cleaning is postponed or avoided. The result: the condition of the dentition worsens, pain becomes the norm and the construction site in the mouth becomes more and more complicated.

Fear of treatment

When patients who are panicking at the dentist are asked about their fears and what triggered them, drills and syringes come first. Some of those affected are already afraid of looking at the equipment, while others are dreading the sound of the drill or the moment the needle sticks.

Some are also based on fear of loss: The idea of ​​losing one or more teeth triggers panic attacks . Others, on the other hand, dread losing control and being at the mercy of the dentist's chair. Dentists who are experienced in dealing with anxious patients manage to prevent these feelings from arising in the first place.

The consequences of dental fear

Anyone who is afraid of the dentists and therefore delays the visit for years must expect tooth decay , tartar , bad breath and inflammation of the gums . The latter can lead to hardening of the arteries, circulatory disorders of the brain and diseases of the coronary arteries. Also to the emergence of Diabetes mellitus is believed to contribute to periodontal disease .

 

 

This helps against fear of dentists

The most important thing is not to fill the fear of the dentist with taboos and not to be ashamed of it. Discuss it - with friends or your family doctor. It can also help to exchange ideas with other sufferers. If you do not haves the opportunity to meet in person or if you prefer to remain anonymous, social networks and online forums are an alternative. Here you will find tips, comfort, helpful examples and the peace of mind that you are not alone.

It is of course best if there is no fear of the dentist at all. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (KZBV) and the German Dental Association (BZÄK) therefore recommend introducing children to visits to the dentist at an early stage in a playful and regular manner. This will allow you to get used to the examination - and hopefully avoid major tooth damage.

Therapies and relaxation techniques

A real dental phobia does not simply go away by itself. It is a constantly recurring feeling that cannot be brought under control without professional help. There are, however, many options for dental phobics. appleinfocom

Depth psychological therapy

In deep psychological psychotherapy , it is primarily unconscious fears that are treated in the context of conversations. This variant is usually only used in very pronounced cases of dental fear and is an approved therapy method for which the health insurance company pays the costs in most cases. The basis is, among other things, the theory of Sigmund Freud. In his psychoanalysis he established that unconscious conflicts are responsible for every type of behavior and perception. The oral cavity is assigned a particularly sensitive role. It is an intimate area of ​​the body that no other person otherwise touches.

A deep psychological treatment usually lasts 50 to 100 hours - divided into two weekly appointments over several months. Short-term therapies usually last 25 hours. Patient and therapist sit opposite each other in individual or group therapy. The type, frequency and duration of the meetings vary depending on the individual case. The therapist creates connections and interprets the patient's statements, but otherwise holds back and usually gives no advice or instructions. The aim of therapy is to solve the problems through your own reflection and targeted food for thought. There is no guarante of success, but there are usually major improvements.  computerlg

Behavioral therapy

The psychological influencing (behavioral therapy) of a patient is well documented and is recognized as a method by the health insurance companies. However, whether there is a medical need for therapy must be decided by the responsible health insurance company on a case-by-case basis. It also depends on whether it pays the costs. Many health insurances keep a back door open: You only pay if the therapy really works and the patient visits the dentist afterwards. If he does not do this, in case of doubt he will be left with the costs.

As part of the therapy, the therapist first informs the person concerned about the course of the treatment, asks about their fears and reasons for them, and then confronts them step by step with the respective fear triggers. A general examination is followed by harmless treatment at the dentist, such as professional teeth cleaning. Tooth fillings or other interventions only follow when the patient is really ready for it. Until then, other fear triggers will gradually appear, such as the sound of a drill or bright lights. The feeling of fear initially grows, but disappears after a while. In this way, the patient learns to reassess fearful situations. In addition, the therapist teaches him various distraction strategies, for example breathing exercises and relaxation techniques such as autogenic training.

Autogenic training

Autogenic training has proven itself as a method against fear of dentists and is scientifically recognized as a procedure. That is why many health insurance companies cover the cost of a course. Adult education centers also offer inexpensive seminars. The Berlin psychiatrist Johannes Heinrich Schultz developed the relaxation method from hypnosis .

Anyone who completes autogenic training utters repeated sentences in their minds to calm the mind and body. The result: blood pressure and heart rate regulate, relaxation sets in - and anxiety subsides. Pain can also be suppressed in this way. The technique is also effective for exam anxiety, headaches , stress , sleep and digestive disorders.

 

Hypnosis

This psychotherapeutic technique has had an image problem for a long time. Numerous scientific studies have now proven its effectiveness. Hypnosis is therefore becoming more and more important. A specially trained dentist puts his anxious patient into a trance state. However, this only work if the patient is fully involved and learns to create images in their heads. If you are mentally ill, have a poor ability to concentrate and have poor imagination, hypnosis is not really useful. Some shapes are also suitable for children as they have a good imagination and a lot of imagination. However, it also depend on the type of intervention whether hypnosis is the right means. You can find a list of dental practices that perform treatments under hypnosis.

Acupuncture

Needles For The Pain? Trying to convince fearful patients with acupuncture sounds contradicting at first sight. A slight prick when sticking the very thin needles cannot be denied - but this pain is so slight that even anxious patients can cope with it well. Acupuncture can help alleviate fear of the dentist; in general, the chances of success are high. Usually the acupuncturist places the needles on the ear. The health insurances only cover the costs if there is a corresponding additional dental insurance. According to the German Medical Association for Acupuncture (DÄGfA), a treatment costs 30 to 70 euros, depending on the duration and effort.

Laughing gas

The short-acting anesthetic gas takes away the fear and relaxes. The method is well suited for short to medium-length treatments. An important advantage: The patient experiences the treatment consciously and learns that the procedure is not bad. The need to rinse out your mouth frequently is eliminated.

Further possibilities

According to the German Dental Association (BZÄK), it makes sense to use music to calm down in the practice - before and during the treatment. A study by the University of Witten / Herdecke shows that music has a positive effect on the experience of fear and pain and lowers the heart rate. Take your own favorite and meditation music with you into the waiting room and treatment room. Breathe calmly and deeply and concentrate on the music. Alternately contract and relax your muscles. Anyone who sits down relaxed on the dentist's chair has already taken the first important step against fear.

Many fear being at the mercy of the dentist's chair - not being able to speak or being able to defend themselves poorly and not knowing which device the doctor will use next. Dentists trained in dealing with anxiety patients make you feel like you are in control of the situation. It can also helpful to have the equipment shown beforehand.