Going to the dentist can be a source of very large anxieties for some people. So lively … that the appointments are regularly postponed or avoided. This type of behavior can lead to delays in care, or even serious complications. It is therefore essential to better understand the origin of this fear.
The Norwegian University of Sciences and Technology is holding a track. His researchers have discovered that young people who have experienced painful experiences – such as parents’ divorce, school harassment, violence or abuse – are much more likely to be anxious in the face of a dentist.
Fear of the dentist: childhood traumas play a role
To understand the origin of the dentist’s fear, scientists took over the files of more than 5,800 adolescents aged 13 to 17. Among other things, they bring together the data of several questionnaires on their life experiences (parents’ divorce, family alcoholism, harassment, violence, etc.) and their fear of the dentist as well as information on their oral health (Caries, etc.).
Analysis shows that the more young people had lived stressful experiences in their childhood, the more likely they were to be afraid of the dentist.
“For many people who have experienced great insecurity during their childhood, dental care can be demanding. Patients are lying on their backs, in a vulnerable position, while a figure of authority takes care of their mouth. It is therefore not surprising that dental care can be difficult,” said Lena Myran, psychologist and main author, in a press release.
Fear of the dentist: girls are more sensitive
The work has also revealed that this link between traumatic experience in childhood and the fear of the dentist is stronger in girls than boys.
The main author of the study published in the journal BMC Oral Health was surprised by the importance of this association. “We know that the fear of the dentist is more frequent in girls and that girls are more numerous than boys to have suffered sexual abuse. Girls are also more numerous than boys to develop anxiety and depression in adolescence, but the fact that we have seen such a clear difference in our data remains surprising”, recognizes Lena Myran.
