
Dentophobia, or fear of dentists, is a common phobia for people of all ages, especially among children. Such fear can cause your child to get physically ill, feel an overwhelming sense of dread, or experience a full-on panic attack at the mere thought of going to the dentist.
Our Kool Smiles Kids Club partners know how important it is to help your child overcome this fear of the dentist. The oral health of your child is about much more than just learning how to floss or prevent cavities; experts know that there is a direct link between the health of your child’s mouth and their overall wellness, which can cause serious health problems later in life.
Most phobias like the fear of a dentist is, at its core, an irrational fear. However, it’s also a very real one for those who suffer from it. Dentophobia has triggered countless people to avoid the dentist for years, even decades. By avoiding a dentist altogether, people with dentophobia are much more likely to suffer from gum infections, toothaches and decay, and broken or unhealthy teeth.
It’s estimated that between 9% and 15% of Americans don’t visit the dentist due to dentophobia. So, what causes this feeling of panic? A fear of the dentist develops for the following reasons:
A few steps you can follow to help lessen your child’s fear of the dentist include:
The goal at every Kool Smiles Kids Club location is to make sure your child’s dentist experience is such a pleasure that no one will develop dentophobia, and to help those who already have. Staff members and dentists alike are here to help make sure every visit is not only beneficial to the oral health of your child, but is a pleasant and enjoyable experience as well.
If your child does suffer from fear of a dentist, rest assured that every effort will be made to help your child conquer his or her phobia! To learn more, find a Kool Smiles Kids Club partner dentist location near you, or call us today.