One in five people is afraid of going to the dentist and your fears are natural, says one researcher - claiming both biology and environment have something to do with this not-so-strange - or unusual - fear.
Being afraid of the dentist means different things to different people. Maybe it's the thought that treatment will hurt, or that the sounds and smells bring back memories of bad experiences as a child.
Dr. Darryl Marsh (of TodaysDentistry.com.au) often encounters questions relating a person's fear of dentist, and has enumerated a number of possible reasons. Check them out here.
According to this Colgate.com article (reviewed by the faculty of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine), dental anxiety and phobia are extremely common. It has been estimated that 9% to 15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear.
People with dental phobia have a higher risk of gum disease and early tooth loss. Avoiding the dentist may have emotional costs as well. Discolored or damaged teeth can make people self-conscious and insecure. They may smile less or keep their mouths partly closed when they speak. Some people can become so embarrassed about how their teeth look that their personal and professional lives begin to suffer. There is often a serious loss of self-esteem.
Check out 8 tips to ease dental fear, shared by NHS.co.uk.