If you know that you need a dental appointment but are overcome with fear at the thought, you may have dentophobia.
Dentophobia vs. Dental Anxiety
Although many people use the terms “fear” and “anxiety” interchangeably, it’s important to understand the differences between them. Dental anxiety is a broad term. It refers to any sense of trepidation or distress you may feel toward dental situations, items, practitioners, or locations. This covers a broad spectrum, as dental anxiety may manifest in mild unease or a more overwhelming sensation like debilitating terror. On the most extreme end of the anxiety spectrum is dental phobia, which is less common but far more acute. Although many people feel mild anxiety in dental-related situations, only some experience it intensely and persistently enough for the fear to be deemed a phobia.
To distinguish between mild and severe cases, authorities in epidemiology and clinical research have used the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) for over a half-century. Many experts today prefer the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) to pinpoint the degree of intensity. Is dentophobia a real phobia? Yes, dentophobia is widely acknowledged as a real fear by the scientific community. Leading publications like the Journal of Oral & Public Health contain many articles on the fear of the dentist, from causes to treatments. Like any phobia, dentophobia is a kind of anxiety disorder, so you should take it seriously.
