Show me someone who is not afraid of the dentist while sitting in the dental chair and I will show you an elephant that can fly. The prevalence of dental anxiety is universal and although a precise reason for it has not been scientifically confirmed, research is continuously being conducted to elucidate the phenomenon. One such study was recently conducted in Australia and it is believed that the results reflect a global blend.

Many researchers believe that persons are afraid of dental treatment simply because the supine position they must assume in the dental chair leaves the patient subconsciously vulnerable and defenceless unlike if they were in a standing position. Others are fearful because they cannot see what the dentist is doing in their mouth so they want to think is the worst and painful act.

Dental anxiety has been reported to impact upon both dental status and the use of dental services. There is an association between dental anxiety and correspondingly greater levels of untreated oral disease, and patterns of care provision, which were dominated by emergency treatment and irregular dental attendance.
When two Australian scientists studied dental anxiety by using a long (one to two hour) semi-structured psychiatric interview followed by dental examination, the National Dental Telephone Interview survey (from a random sampling of telephone numbers by computer) and by using Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (13 points and above considered severe), they discovered the following:

1. The ‘dental phobics’showed greater numbers of missing teeth, more loss of alveolar bone through gum disease, and greater denture use, when compared with other subjects.

2. The adults had less natural tee

3. Those with natural teeth had more missing and fewer filled teeth but did not differ in their numbers of decayed teeth.

4. They had 4 to 5 times the odds of needing immediate treatment for the relief of pain or infection.

5. The prevalence of dental fear was higher among those of lower education level and social class.

Dental anxiety has also been shown to be associated with the avoidance of regular dental care. Evidence of the adverse health consequences means that the estimation of the prevalence and severity of dental disease may be important to dental public health.

Individuals with high dental anxiety are likely to suffer greater impact from dental conditions, with significantly more toothache, discomfort, and avoidance of some foods. The condition may be a component in a cycle of dental disadvantage among individuals who are inflicted with it. The dental health status of the victims will progressively deteriorate unless the condition is overcome.

It follows that dentally anxious individuals would be more likely to experience marked social impact from impairing oral diseases; that is, not only are they more likely to avoid care, they are more likely to need it, and they suffer the dental and social consequences of not seeking it.