title: Helping your patients overcome dental phobia.
abstract: Dental phobias stem from various sources and can lead to strongly conditioned fear responses. The following are the most common origins of dental fear: Previously painful or negative experiences during visits to a dentist's office. A severe discomfort with feeling vulnerable and/or out of control in a dental situation. A sense of embarrassment from dental neglect and fear of ridicule and/or belittlement. Scary anecdotes of negative dental experiences from family and friends. Negative, menacing portrayals of dentists in movies, television, newspapers, and magazines. A sense of depersonalization in the dental process, intensified by today's necessity for the use of barrier precautions, such as masks, latex gloves, and shields. A general fear of the unknown. Once you recognize the possible sources of your patients' fears, you will be in a much better position to help them identify and overcome their particular brand of dental phobia.
authors.forename: Roger P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000517:prevention & control; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012648:Self Care