Some studies have found around half of all dental patients experience some anxiety about their dental visits, which can sometimes contribute to dental phobia. In the other direction, many mental health disorders are associated with dental disease.
“If you feel embarrassed about the health of your teeth, you may notice that this triggers some social anxiety. You may withdraw. Or it may hurt your self-esteem. This can lead to an increase in some of your mental health symptoms.”
A scientific review of related studies found a strong link between periodontal (gum) disease and mood conditions like stress, distress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.
Signs and symptoms of dental anxiety
People with dental anxiety may experience: sweating. racing heartbeat (tachycardia) or palpitations. low blood pressure and possible fainting (syncope)
Greater risk for dental decay and tooth loss can lead to more frequent pain experience, social isolation, and low self-esteem, and reducing quality of life and in turn possibly being associated with poorer mental and overall health [9].
Oral anxiety isn't being stressed, anxious, or depressed about your oral health. Instead, oral anxiety is the effects these mental health problems end up having on your oral health. This is especially true if you struggle with depression.
When someone has persistent tooth pain or feels embarrassed of their smile, it can negatively affect their mental health as well as their relationships and interactions with others.
Pain. Far and away the number one factor in dental phobia, pain provides a two-fold problem for patients afraid of visiting the dentist. On one hand, any past painful experience is seared in the memory – and unlikely to go away anytime soon.
What is dentophobia? People with dentophobia, also called odontophobia, have a fear of dentists. Someone with dentophobia may have extreme anxiety at the thought of going to the dentist or while in the dentist's office.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease. If you're feeling tense or anxious, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of the following stress-related disorders.
The most commonly prescribed dental related drugs that treat anxiety belong to the “benzodiazepine” family. Drugs such as Valium, Halcion, Xanax, or Ativan.
Conscious sedation dentistry is implemented using laughing gas or oral pharmaceuticals to reduce feelings of pain and anxiety, and is used commonly to treat dental anxiety.
The widespread influence of gum disease
The most pronounced association in the study's analysis was between periodontal disease and mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, which developed in 37% of those with gum disease. Co-study author and periodontal specialist Dr.
According to researchers, anywhere between 50 and 80% of adults in the United States have some degree of dental anxiety, ranging from mild to severe. More than 20% of dentally anxious patients do not see a dentist regularly, and anywhere from 9 to 15% of anxious patients avoid care altogether.
An anxiety disorder can be caused by multiple factors, such as genetics, environmental stressors and medical conditions. New research also indicates that chronic anxiety symptoms that will not go away can be due to an autoimmune response, triggered by common infections.
Bruxism (tooth grinding): stress commonly triggers the grinding, clenching or gnashing of teeth during the night. It can lead to jaw disorders, headaches, chipped or damaged teeth and other dental problems. Dry mouth: anxiety and stress often result in a dry mouth, which has a negative impact on oral health.
Many people grind their teeth while feeling anxious, sometimes not knowing they are doing so. Anxiety may also cause you to neglect your teeth, which can easily result in cavities forming. You might also obsess about your teeth and cause a psychologically-induced aching feeling in some cases.
Also called pill sedation, oral sedation is a type of sedation dentistry that uses prescription medication to help patients relax before and during their dental exams. The medication used for oral sedation is usually a type of benzodiazepine such as Valium, Xanax, or Halcion.
Dental fear is defined as a negative reaction to specific threatening stimuli associated with dental treatment, whereas dental anxiety is an excessive or impairing negative emotional state experienced by dental patients [1,2].
Can Dentists tell if you have depression? Dentists are trained to look for signs of depression, but they are not mental health professionals. However, some telltale signs may indicate that a person is struggling with depression. For example, people who are depressed may have trouble taking care of their teeth.
According to specialists, depression is an inflammatory disorder, meaning that certain medical conditions can cause or exacerbate mental disorders. Poor oral hygiene is a source of inflammation, which, as it turns out, can lead to depression.
The researchers found that the genetically-increased risk of poor oral health was associated with poorer brain health. This included a higher incidence of silent cerebrovascular disease, which affects the brain's blood supply, and microstructural damage.
Just as depression can contribute to bad teeth, dental problems may also lead to depression or worsen it. There are two primary reasons for this. First and foremost, bad teeth can significantly interfere with a person's healthy body image.