Dental Phobia Information and Support
Are you terrified of the dentist? Dental Fear Central is the world’s largest dental phobia resource. We also provide information for dental professionals who would like to better help their nervous or phobic patients. Join our online support community today!
What is dental phobia?
Does the thought of seeing a dentist fill you with a sense of dread or terror? You’re not alone! Find out why people develop a fear of the dentist, why dental phobia is different from other phobias, how common it is, and much more.
How to deal with a fear of the dentist
A step-by-step guide to tackling dental phobia, fear and anxiety. You may have avoided the dentist for decades, or perhaps you force yourself to go despite your fear. Either way, we’ve put together lots of helpful tips which our members have shared over the years!
Real Life Stories
There are many people who were, at one time, feeling as perhaps you do now. In this video, Finn shares their journey of overcoming dental phobia:
Common Dental Fears
People often think that a fear of the dentist is about being afraid of injections or the drill.
While you may well have these fears, there are often other issues, including:
- being humiliated or told off
- not having control
- fear of not getting numb
- choking or gagging
- fear of allergic reactions
- fear of unnecessary treatment
- not being able to cope with the news of what needs to be done
and many more. Visit the Common Fears pages for more information and possible solutions!
Tips for Dealing with Dentist Phobia
Get tips from fellow dental phobics and from dentists. Find out what has worked for others, how much you can tell your new dentist, and how to woo your dentist (in 9 easy steps):
What Can Help
Find out what may help when you’re deathly afraid of dentistry. There’s also a step-by-step guide for finding a dentist, making an appointment, and facing your greatest fear.
Sedation Dentistry
Would you like to sail through dental work with little or no awareness? Or take the edge off your anxiety? Sedation dentistry may be the answer!
Stop Signals
Having an agreed stop signal gives you the power to stop your dentist at any time. But what if you’re too shy to give one, or paralysed with fear?
The Wand
The Wand and similar computer-controlled injection systems are great for those with needle phobia and a fear of dental injections.
Numbing Gel
If you need an injection, there are effective numbing gels that can be put on the gums beforehand.
Interviews with Dentists
When you’ve had bad dental experiences, you may be inclined to think that all dentists are “compassionless buttholes” (as one of our readers phrased it!). This is not so:
For Dentists and the Dental Team
Lots of free material and articles on supporting anxious patients, including
- tips from other dentists
- information on trauma-informed dental care
- patient questionnaires for adults and children
- courses and CPD opportunities
- opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals: