Understanding patient fears
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 19th September 2021
It’s an unfortunate fact that many people still consider a visit to their dentist as something to be afraid of. Indeed, it’s thought that as many as one third of all British people fear the dental chair, meaning that millions of individuals feel apprehensive about receiving the necessary professional care to keep their oral health in top condition.[i]
The biggest downside of this is, of course, that those who are afraid of the dentist are more likely to avoid check-ups and important appointments, putting their oral health at risk. The same source that stated a third of Brits are afraid of the dentist also suggested that 79% of these individuals have put off appointments in the past because of this fear.[ii]
But what is at the root of these fears and what can professionals do to help patients cope?
The many forms of dental fear
Much like any fear, there is no universal reason that dictates why individuals are afraid of visiting the dentist. Every person will have a different “trigger” that sets off their negative feelings, and these can range between a vast array of causes.
One of the most cited causes of dental fear is past trauma experienced at a dental practice.[iii] This, in itself, is a rather broad spectrum, and may include anything from receiving painful treatment to simply feeling uncomfortable in the chair and finding the experience unbearable. General stress, anxiety and other mental conditions can also manifest as fear of the dentist, especially if people are afraid of losing control or have trust issues. Other fear-inducing experiences may include past abuse or even another fear such as agoraphobia (the fear of being in a situation you can’t escape), creating a difficult combination of factors that can be very difficult to overcome.
A combination of these causes may also be at play, meaning that even if a person is able to conquer one of the reasons behind their fear, there’s no guarantee that their negative feelings towards receiving dental care will disappear.
Alongside this, we also need to consider the way that dentistry, in general, is portrayed in popular media. Professionals will be aware that treatments such as root canal surgery can be effectively pain-free using the latest techniques. However, there is still a stigma attached to these kinds of treatment in the public eye, with many believing they will be excruciatingly painful – a factor that is only likely to increase fear of visiting the dentist.
Barriers caused by fear
As mentioned before, fear of the dentist has been highlighted as a significant reason behind why so many people avoid visiting the dentist.[iv] The repercussions of this are obvious – if individuals do not attend appointments for routine care it’s likely that they will have a poorer standard of oral health compared to those that do. Furthermore, they may have serious oral health issues that, if left unchecked, may result in expensive emergency appointments down the line that could very well exacerbate their fears further if they have to receive invasive treatment.
For those patients that can conquer their fears enough to visit the dental practice, it can still be a challenging scenario for patient and professional alike. Patients who are scared of treatment may be more likely to reject treatment plans or be uncooperative in the chair, so it’s important to look at ways to help lessen the discomfort for these patients as much as possible.
Keep them calm
One good strategy dentist is to encourage patients to talk about their concerns so that you can do everything in your power to minimise their fears. For example, if someone is scared by the sound of the drill you can look into alternative methods that are silent. For patients that don’t like the loss of control, try talking them through each stage of the oral examination and treatment, keeping them fully informed of anything you’re about to do so that they can mentally prepare themselves and feel like they have a handle on the situation.
It also makes sense to utilise solutions that can minimise chair time for these patients, such as the new CS 3800 wireless intraoral scanner from Carestream Dental. A lightning-fast scanner that is at the very cutting-edge of intraoral scanner technology, the CS 3800 wireless is a lightweight solution that has a proven scanning time of 25 seconds for a single arch.* Plus, the scanner also features an impressive 16x14mm field of view and enhanced depth of field, meaning it easily captures all of the details you need. This way, even though scans are swift, you never compromise on outcomes.
Managing fears in the future
Due to the complex nature of dental fear, there is no cure-all solution available to help patients overcome these feelings. However, by taking the time to talk to them candidly about their fears and making adjustments, as well as investing in systems that can help ensure treatment is as swift and comfortable as possible, you can make a significant difference.
*Internal testing completed on a 3D model. Scanning time may vary based on the tooth model and PC.
For more information, contact Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or
visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk
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Nimisha Nariapara is the Trade Marketing Manager at Carestream Dental covering the UK, Middle East, Nordics, South Africa, Russia and CIS regions. She has worked at Carestream Dental for the past 7 years, where she has developed her marketing skills and industry knowledge to bring the core values and philosophy of the company to the market.
[i] Dentistry. More Than A Third of Brit’s Fear The Dentist’s Chair. Link: https://dentistry.co.uk/2017/05/23/third-of-brits-fear-dentists-chair/#:~:text=More%20than%20a%20third%20(34,chair%2C%20new%20research%20has%20found. [Last accessed May 21].
[ii] Dentistry. More Than A Third of Brit’s Fear The Dentist’s Chair. Link: https://dentistry.co.uk/2017/05/23/third-of-brits-fear-dentists-chair/#:~:text=More%20than%20a%20third%20(34,chair%2C%20new%20research%20has%20found. [Last accessed May 21].
[iii] Better Health Channel. Dental Anxiety and Phobia. Link: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dental-anxiety-and-phobia [Last accessed May 21].
[iv] Beaton, L. et al. Why Are People Afraid Of The Dentist? Observations and Explanations. Med Princ Pract. 2014 Jul; 23(4): 295–301.
