Dental Anxiety – Psychological and Physical Factors as Triggers

While focusing on the terms dental anxiety, phobia, and fear, they are considerably common, but they are different in their circumstances. However, a difference has been noted between the terminologies. When challenged with a menacing dental issue, dental fear is a response to a familiar danger involving a “fight-or-flight” reaction meant to respond to stimuli 1 . On the contrary, dental anxiety (DA) is a response to unfamiliar danger where an individual exhibits a negative attitude towards dental treatment 2 . In contrast, dental phobia is primarily similar to fear, but it is much stronger because the “fight-or-flight” reaction happens when one thinks or is reminded about the situation3 . There are 3 categories of dental phobias based on their intensity4 . Dental anxiety is popular with the general population and is the least intense, mild odontophobia. When the issue becomes moderate, it becomes dental fear or moderate odontophobia. Finally, a severe case is considered rare and can be challenging to manage - dental phobia.