The Etiology and Treatment of Dental Phobia

This paper explores the origins and understanding of dental phobia (dentophobia) in the context of specific phobias. Specific phobias are defined as an irrational fear of something that poses no real threat, leading to impairment in one's quality of life. The paper examines the biopsychosocial model to analyze the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to dental phobia. Biologically, dentophobia reveals itself to heritable. Socially, socioeconomic factors can influence dental anxiety. Psychologically, past traumatic experiences, such as sexual violence, can trigger dentophobia. After examining potential causes, this paper explores possible treatments. The two main categories of treatments are pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. Additionally, the paper also explores the effectiveness of single vs. multi-session treatments. Finally, this paper offers recommendations for dentists that can help them approach treating a patient who suffers from dental phobia, including psych education, communicating, and gradual exposure.