Amayzine

This is where your fear of the dentist comes from

By Wieke Veenboer | #!31Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200+02:002331#31Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331 28pm31pm-31Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200+02:004Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam2023312023Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200304303pmTuesday=9#!31Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam3#03-28-2023#!31Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200+02:002331#/31Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331#!31Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:30:23 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam3#

Last week it was that time again: I had to go to the dentist. And I hate that. Then you might think: well, it's only once every six months anyway, why bother, but because I find it so annoying I don't go. So the last time was about four years ago and I'm so ashamed of it that I don't dare make an appointment because I'm afraid I'll get the wind knocked out of me, so I don't make the appointment. Then it takes even longer, and I feel even more ashamed, in short: I'm in a negative spiral when it comes to the dentist. But I went, I am proud of myself AND I had no cavities. So that's my weird flex: that in my 33-year life I have never had a cavity in my teeth.

The fact that I am 33 and still afraid of the dentist is something I am a little less forthcoming about. While it is not a special fear at all; so many people are afraid of the dentist. But where does this fear come from?

So there is definitely investigated, which found that about 36 per cent of the population is afraid of the dentist, and of these, another 12 per cent are extremely afraid, so anxious that they dare not go.

Their conclusion was that in almost all cases, the cause of the anxiety came from ‘exogenous sources’, which quite simply means that it is not in your personality, but has grown due to external factors.

The researchers found that in many cases the anxiety stemmed from a traumatic experience (or several), which then did not necessarily have to do with a dentist, although of course it may not. During their survey, 61 per cent indicated that their anxiety might well have been born out of an unpleasant experience with a dentist, so for the majority, the cause was fairly obvious.

Apart from traumatic experiences, as a person you may also have difficulty trusting people and find it difficult to let go of control. Also, if you suffer from depression or anxiety disorders, you are also more likely to push the dentist as far away from you as possible.

And now what? Experts recommend that if you suffer from dental anxiety, meditate beforehand, pay close attention to your breathing and create distractions. So next time put in your earplugs when you have your twice-yearly check-up. Also, an aggravation blanket seems to help, although they don't have those lying around there anytime soon, but I'm sure they'll be fine with you bringing your own.