Dental fear is a very real issue for a lot of people. It is important that people try to understand their fear as it does impact on getting dental treatment.

The vicious cycle of dental fear (Armfield 2007)

Recognising anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety can vary, depending on whether your anxiety is general or you have been diagnosed with a specific disorder. Symptoms can be both psychological and physical.

• High blood pressure
• Irregular breathing
• Feelings of loss of control
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Nervous stomach

Dealing with anxiety

Let’s look at an overall approach to dealing with being anxious.

• 1. What is the cause?
  First, look inside. What is causing you to worry? Be specific. Writing in a journal or talking to a friend about it can help you sort out your feelings.
  
• 2. What part of the situation is under your control?
  Once you’ve identified the cause,, decide what action should be taken. Try to figure out what part of the situation is under your control. Assess the problem to see whether the threat is real, or if you are blowing it out of proportion. If the problem is just a hypothetical situation or a worst-case scenario, decide if it is really likely that your fears will actually come to fruition.
  
• 3. Make a plan
  Next, come up with a plan that tackles the part of the problem that is under your control. Taking action to protect yourself is a good way to channel nervous energy and provides reassurance against your fears. It is, in most cases, the healthiest response to realistic fears and worries.
  
• 4. Just let it go
  Once you have done all you can, just let it go. Like everything in life, this is easier said than done, but with practice, you can get pretty adept at letting go of excessive levels of stress and anxiety. You can do this by focusing on something else, reminding yourself of the solutions you have worked on, or trying some stress management strategies that can help you feel more centred and at peace, such as prayer or meditation, journaling about your feelings, or listening to music (Adapted from Scott 2007).

References:

Armfield, J., Stewart, J., & Spencer, J. (2007). The vicious cycle of dental fear: exploring the interplay between oral health, service utilization and dental fear. BMC Oral Health, 7(1), 15.

Scott, E (2007) How to deal with stress and anxiety in four simple steps. Accessed on April 28th 2009 at About.com Health’s Disease and Condition.