Young people who have experienced bullying, divorce, violence or abuse are significantly more likely to be anxious to visit the dental practice.
According to a new study, this anxiety may cause some people to avoid going to the dentist – while others feel an urge to flee once they are there.
Between eight to 20% of children and adolescents are so afraid of dental treatment that they meet the criteria for being diagnosed with dental fear.
Undertaken by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the research shows that dental fear occurs more often in those who have been exposed to stressful childhood experiences.
With responses from more than 5,800 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, findings show the more stressful experiences the young people had, the greater the likelihood that they would have dental fear.
Vulnerable position
‘For many people who have experienced a lot of insecurity in childhood, dental treatment can be demanding. The patients lie on their backs in a vulnerable position while an authority figure works inside the mouth. It’s no wonder that dental treatment can be difficult,’ says Lena Myran, a specialist in psychology.
‘I have patients who haven’t been to the dentist for 40 years.’
She added: ‘It is also important to note that this is a cross-sectional study that does not provide a basis for saying what is cause or effect. We can only see if there is a connection.’
The study also shows that the association was stronger in girls than in boys.
‘We know that dental fear is more common among girls and that more girls than boys have experienced sexual abuse,’ said Lena.
‘There are also more girls than boys who develop anxiety and depression in adolescence, but the fact that we found such a clear difference in our material was still surprising.’
She believes the findings should have consequences for how the dental health service treats young people.
She emphasises that many children may have had painful childhood experiences without developing dental fear. She adds that anxiety surrounding the dentist is generally greatest when you are a child, and that it often reduces as the child matures.
Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.
