Patients reveal their top 10 fears of the dentist and dental appointment

When it comes to the most common fears that patients have about walking through the doors of the dental practice, it appears that being scared of potential pain is just the tip of the fear iceberg.

Based on Google searches and examining numerous articles, we have composed a list of the top 10 fears that patients have about the dental practice. This list is intended to help dentists and dental teams understand what might be going through the mind of a patient when he or she walks through the door so they are prepared with talking points that could help alleviate these fears.

With that in mind, here are the top 10 fears that dental patients have expressed about visiting the dentist:

1. Fear of pain: Not a surprise that this is at the top of the list, so how are you discussing concerns about pain before the visit?


2. Fear of not being numb when the procedure starts: This one came up time and time again in our research.


3. Fear of injections: There are plenty of people who fear a needle being anywhere near them.


4. Fear of choking: Whether it is from their own saliva or the thought of having something dropped that they will ingest (such as what happened in this case), this is a real concern.


5. Fear of being unable to breathe: This fear goes along with the one above and can kick into high gear if a dental dam is used.


6. Fear of loud noises: This includes the sound of the drill as was referenced in several articles.


7. Fear of change: Some of your patients may be coming in to have a single tooth or a complete smile rebuilt. What if they don't like the way they look after the procedure?


8. Fear of the unknown: What's really going to happen during that dental appointment? This is one that can hopefully be lessened with good communication before the procedure.


9. Fear of being too close: Some patients report that they don't like the proximity needed by the dentist and dental team during the procedure.


10. Fear of not being heard: Going back to the fear of being numb, patients report they are afraid that they won't get the attention of the dentist if they are hurting or are uncomfortable. Worse, some report they fear the dentist will continue the treatment even if they're asked to stop.

Again, these are some of the fears expressed by dental patients online. How are you and your team prepared to handle these and others? Communication is often the key, well ahead of the appointment.

What other fears have you heard from your patients? Let us know in the comments section below.