Dental fear
Dental Fear
Dental fear (pronunciation: /ˈdɛn.təl fɪər/), also known as Dental Phobia or Odontophobia, is a type of Specific Phobia characterized by a severe and persistent fear of dental procedures or dental settings.
Etymology
The term "Dental fear" is derived from the Latin word "Dentis" meaning "tooth" and the Old English word "Fær" meaning "fear or danger". The term "Odontophobia" is derived from the Greek words "Odontos" meaning "tooth" and "Phobos" meaning "fear".
Definition
Dental fear is a common emotional response to one or more specific threatening stimuli in the dental situation. However, dental fear becomes a Clinical Phobia when the fear is excessive or unreasonable, and when it leads to avoidance of dental care, causing significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
Related Terms
- Dental Anxiety: A feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, related to anticipated dental treatment. This term is often used interchangeably with dental fear, but it refers to a more mild to moderate form of fear.
- Dental Phobia: A more severe form of dental fear, where the individual experiences intense fear or dread at the thought of going to the dentist or receiving dental care.
- Specific Phobia: A type of Anxiety Disorder characterized by an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity, such as dental procedures.
- Odontophobia: Another term for dental phobia, derived from the Greek words for tooth and fear.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dental fear
- Wikipedia's article - Dental fear
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