Hardly anyone likes going to the dentist. Some people get at the thought of the drill or the injection of anesthesia sweaty hands. The fear of the dentist visit but goes significantly beyond, it is dangerous. “In the case of a dental phobia to be Concerned, appearing not even in practice, and the often over many years,” says Peter Jöhren. The specialist dentist for oral surgery manages the dental clinic of Bochum.
According to the Institute of German dentists around twelve percent of Germans have a great fear of the dentist. The findings of a 2012 study published. The Affected have what is called a phobic disorder, you are advised to downright panic when they think about visiting the dentist. “The outbreaks, for example, in the Form of sweat, palpitations, dizziness, and circulatory problems,” says Thomas Wolf, senior physician at the clinic for conservative dentistry, Preventive and children’s dentistry at the University of Bern.
The cause often lies in Childhood
Affected trembling sometimes of the whole body, have an increased heart rate, the blood pressure can skyrocket. As different as the symptoms, so different are the possible causes. “Often the experienced pain before, during and after a dental treatment, leading patients to avoid,” explains Jöhren.
The doctor sees the origin of the disease in many patients at the first dentist visit. “If the treatments in Childhood were bad, it will have a future dentists hard to regain trust,” says oral surgeon Jöhren. The social environment also plays a role. Family members or friends fear of dental treatment, the transmission of this feeling to yourself.
Serious Consequences
So what to do? Simply is not going to be dangerous: Inflamed teeth that remain over a long period of time if left untreated, can have fatal consequences – from the pain. “Possible serious acute and chronic diseases,” said Dietmar Oesterreich, Vice-President of the Federal chamber of dentists (BZÄK). So bacteria on the affected Tooth, deep in the jaw bone can penetrate. Through the bloodstream it can lead to a sometimes life-threatening inflammation in the body. Furthermore, chronic tooth bed increase inflammation, according to Oesterreich, the risk for Diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
The phobia affects the health on the socialization of the person Concerned. Destroyed teeth make you look unkempt and reduce often the self-confidence. Because with inflamed teeth and gums are often also more or less strong mouth odor is associated with limited social contacts often.
Under General anesthesia on the treatment chair
Without treatment of the phobia it is not so. “But that is not the task of the dental doctors, but by trained psychotherapists,” says Wolf. In the case of acute pain, make a dental therapy cannot be postponed, can be used to treat the dentist to his patient under sedation or General anesthesia.
“General anesthesia should be carried out only in acute care necessary treatment,” says Oesterreich. This is because the phobia is overcome – and also not the Problem, what is possibly behind it. In addition to General anesthesia risks. A Patient must be informed.
Root canal treatment at the walk in the woods
Instead of under General anesthesia can leave patients by hypnosis in a state of relaxation. The thoughts of the patient are directed to positive experiences – a beach holiday noise with the sea, a walk in the woods with the scent of flowers. There are trained dentists that offer treatments such hypnosis.
Ultimately, however, find a psychotherapist with the patient the appropriate way out of the phobia. Concerned can, for example, to complete a so-called Anti-anxiety Training. Patient of a therapist to be guided gently to the Situation at the dentist. “At the first meeting it is important, with information and empathy that often the patient lost confidence to the dentist again,” explains Jöhren.
Pain-free with the favorite music in the ear
Sensitive should ask the doctor according to the patient’s Wishes and not write it down so you get in the treatment in oblivion. “Some patients it helps about, if you listen to during the treatment through the headphones to your favorite music or relaxation music in the Background,” says top doctor Wolf out of the clinic for conservative dentistry, Preventive and children’s dentistry.
Nowadays, a pain-free dental treatment is due to modern methods, as a rule, possible. “In order for the psychotherapy to have long-term success, it is crucial that the Patient makes in the dental treatments are no bad experiences,” stresses Jöhren. Even the smallest violations of the agreements between a therapist, a dentist or Patient can lead to more defensive behavior, warns Jöhren: “The promise of pain-free treatment must not be broken.”
