Turns out that fathers who feared the dentist were more likely to pass on these fears and stresses on their children. On top of this, this fear is passed on from mother to child as well, but the mother is also influenced by her husband.
LOOK: Common things people are afraid of during a dentist visit:
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1. Fear Of The Unknown
When Siegelman receives a new patient, he often doesn't jump right into the cleaning or dental procedure in the first visit. Instead, he sits with the new patient in his office -- with the door open, so there's no feelings of claustrophobia -- just to talk, so the patient can get to know him first.
Siegelman said that other people with milder dental phobia can also ask to meet with their dentist first to help quell fears. While not all dentists may not have the luxury of time to be able to do this, it's worth asking a dentist before scheduling an appointment if you think it will help you feel more at ease, he said.
2. Fear Of The Dental Equipment
Sometimes, the scariest part of the dental visit is having those strange, sharp, metal tools stuck into your mouth.
"I think it's an instinctive thing not to like noisy, sharp, piercing metallic things," Siegelman said.
What can help ease this fear is to ask to hold the tools first, just so they don't seem so foreign, he suggested.
3. Sensitive Gag Reflex
People with a sensitive gag reflex may loathe the part of the dentist's visit where those tabs are put in the mouth for the dental X-ray. These days, newer dentist offices offer panoramic X-rays, Siegelman said.
4. The Dentist Seems Ominous
Find a dentist with a sense of humor! A study published in the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21896054" target="_hplink"><em>European Journal of Oral Science</em></a> showed that empathy and humor are big factors in reducing dental fear.
"Psychological barriers can be broken down by humor, both as a result of the patient and the dentist coming together more as equals, and as a result of humor reducing stress, increasing well-being and creating a pleasant atmosphere," study researcher Jenny Bernson, of the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, said <a href="http://www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/english/news_and_events/news/News_Detail/optimism-and-humour-can-help-to-combat-dental-fear.cid1058382" target="_hplink">in a statement</a>.
While humor is a great tactic to help a patient feel more at ease, Siegelman said that it's important that a dentist have a good grasp of the patient's sense of humor, or else it could backfire.
"Absolutely, humor is great for anxiety, without question," Siegelman said.
"I just think that it's a tough play -- not every patient has a great sense of humor, and not every dentist has a great sense of humor."
5. Fear Of Loud Noises
Those dental tools can be really loud, and the noise can stir up fear in some people, Siegelman said. So, he recommends that these people wear earplugs or noice-canceling headphones to block out the sound.
6. Feeling Uncomfortable Lying Back In A Dentist's Chair
Some people may be uncomfortable with something as simple as lying back in the dentist's chair, due to a bad back or some control issues, Siegelman said. A simple remedy may be for the dentist to only put the patient half-back so that it's more comfortable. Or, a dentist could provide positioning pillows for people who feel aches and pains for being in a laid-back position.
7. Unable To Breathe Through The Nose
Are you a mouth-breather, who feels like you're being stifled if you can only breathe through your nose? That could be an issue at a dentist visit, where the dentist must work in the mouth, which can make mouth-breathing hard.
Siegelman recommends nasal strips for patients to help them breathe through their nose. Or, nitrous oxide could help people relax and breathe better -- it all depends on the situation, he said.
The next time your heart goes into panic mode at the sound of the dentist's drill, you can blame your parents.
According to a study by researchers from Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, the "...
The next time your heart goes into panic mode at the sound of the dentist's drill, you can blame your parents.
According to a study by researchers from Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, the "...
I hate pain. Doesn't take a genius to realize that many trips to the dentist involve needles. In my case, the freezing often didn't take the first time, and the needles are huge.
Load me up with laughing gas and I'd likely come more often.
Averagedancer: I hate pain. Doesn't take a genius to realize that
My dentist is actually a good friend of ours, but i still hate going to the dentist. Mainly for one reason. I HATE being lectured by the hygienists about flossing. Jesus, I brush my teeth three times a day and i have two kids under the age of three, two dogs and a cat. I should be given a prize, not a scolding!
Pondering_panda: My dentist is actually a good friend of ours, but
I was in a dentists office for braces and attempting to fix an underbite when I was younger, I'd be in there usually once a month or so. I actually looked forward to it - it meant half a day off from school.
The only time I ever actually felt scared about anything orthodontical was reading the story where a guy went to his ex-gf (a dentist) for a toothache, and she pulled out all his teeth while he was under. The story was a hoax, and I disregarded it afterwards, but while reading it I'll definitely say I got chills.
Helgardh: I was in a dentists office for braces and attempting
I'm terrified because I have had many bad experiences like three abscessed teeth at the same time caused by one dentist saying my fillings were old and needed to be replaced. I had to go to another dentist and get three root canals after that. Another dentist severed my lingual nerve pulling out my wisdom tooth so I have no feeling on one side of my face. I switch dentists every three years or so and have never found one yet that treats my anxiety issues which are a) I can't stand waiting in the waiting room and b) I can't stand any appointment longer than 1 to 1.5 hour maximum. I would rather come back the next day to complete the work but no dentist will accommodate that, they will make me stay there for 2 hours fiddling with a crown. Younger dentists who only have young patients with no cavities are the worst for not understanding anxiety. I now swallow an Ativan before I go and even with that I can barely tolerate them.
detalumis: I'm terrified because I have had many bad experiences like
You shouldn't get crowns . Dentists twist your arm to get you to get crowns instead of filling because they make so much money on crowns . Corwns require removal of a drastic amount of tooth structure which is bad for a tooth . Crowns require far more drilling than fillings and therefore damage your tooth's nerve making it much more likely to die eventually , if not that day , leading to root canals and chronic infections.You are far more likely to get periodontal disease next to teeth with crowns than teeth with fillings.
AnnainLA: You shouldn't get crowns . Dentists twist your arm to
I am not scarred of them, I AM SCARRED, OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN MY MOUTH,
is it really necessary? AND THEN THE BILL!
YES, I AM SCARRED OF THEM, the money grabbers.
Liban_CZ: I am not scarred of them, I AM SCARRED, OF
I spent years not being afraid of the dentist until the time a dentist decided my final wisdom tooth had to go. I wore my walkman & headphones to distract myself. Numbed up, no problem & no fear; until the dentist had her assistance come into the room, with both gripping, yanking & forcefully tugging on the tooth, literally lifting me from the chair. In my mind I envisioned the Three Stooges trying to yank out one of Curley's teeth, to the point I wondered when a hammer would come into play. The tooth finally was removed. Even with my headphones I heard loud gasps from the dentist & assistance. Removing the headphones I ask what was going on. At first both refused to answer. I pushed it, discovering the tooth had three roots instead of two, with one root being hook shaped, causing the difficult removal. Seeing it I was told a different type of xray should have been done with an oral surgeon removing the tooth. I have a deep pit in my mouth where that tooth had been to remind me of that awful dental proceedure.
collectsrocks: I spent years not being afraid of the dentist until
The writers forgot the biggest fear of all..... COST. Its amazing how fast these unregulated professionals can rack up your bill over and above any insurance you have.
Saucy_Tom: The writers forgot the biggest fear of all..... COST. Its
Garbage! I have never once gone to a dentist where there was not some excruciating pain involved. Novocaine or Lydocaine is administered with a huge needle, the sound of which grating against my jaw is horrifying. I have begged for dentists to simply pull all my teeth at once and be over with it, but, nooooooooooo. They refuse to pull healthy teeth. Instead the pain goes on as I get older and the take my teeth one by one. You don't even want me to go into cost.
carolecray: Garbage! I have never once gone to a dentist where
There is always pain, at some point. The kind that makes you almost jump out of the chair. I have been conditioned by this pain, not to look forward to the dentist. I say, normal reaction.
dojohndaily: There is always pain, at some point. The kind that
Pain and huge novicaine needles are my fear! I have had to spends many, many hours in the dentist chair since I was a kid, having my teeth filled and refilled, then having to have them pulled because the teeth got abcessed or broken. I finally found a dentist that I am confortable with, and do not have panic attacks on the way to his office. In the last 2 years, I've had 4 teeth capped, then had to get root canals done on them because of the trauma to the teeth. Not to mention the thousands and thousands of dollars I've spent on my teeth in the last few years - I need to get two more teeth capped soon! Not looking forward to that - more root canals in my future???
starshutch: Pain and huge novicaine needles are my fear! I have
Crowning teeth frequently leads to the death of the tooth's nerve and therefore to root canals and the resulting chronic infections . Crowns are almost always unecessary so tell the dentist you want a filling instead because you can't afford a crown . Fillings are less traumatic to teeth because there is less drilling so you are less likely to have your nerve die .
AnnainLA: Crowning teeth frequently leads to the death of the tooth's
The main scare at the dentist is the cost. So few have health care now because they don't have jobs (is Obamacare gonna cover that?). Plus a lot of health care companies don't offer dental and those that do don't cover much. It's becoming one of those things that only the rich can afford.
jdunbar60: The main scare at the dentist is the cost. So
Implants are expensive, both in procedure and lab fees. People and employers wouldn't want to pay the insurance cost.
People will pay $30,000 + for a car, not even counting insurance and gas, and after 10 years it's a piece of junk. But complain about a few thousand for their teeth which you can keep for the rest of your life.
I agree with jdunbar60. Dental coverage in a modern industrialized service economy must be spread more equitably. How is the question.
Trashcan_Man: Implants are expensive, both in procedure and lab fees. People
Dentists wear masks. I think Hollywood dusters make us afraid of dentists. When does my PhD from Madrid arrive?
Finding a good dentist is like finding a good garage. Just when you begin to trust they get new management and the price doubles. From then on you're never sure what you need and what they want. If you guess wrong you're in for a world of appointments, cost, and probably perpetual discomfort. With a car you just get a new one.
Most people without any teeth have been to dentists. Most people who die have been to hospitals. Just sayin. Sometimes there are too many studies passed off as relevant.
Surfinby: Dentists wear masks. I think Hollywood dusters make us afraid
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The Huffington Post Canada | Posted: 11/16/2012 12:35 pm EST