- Monique Verhoef RTC, MTC
- May 22
- 3 min read
If the thought of sitting in a dental chair makes your heart race or your stomach turn, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety affects up to 36% of the population, with about 12% experiencing extreme fear* (Oosterink et al., 2009). And yet, people often minimize or hide it — as if it’s “just in their head.”
Let’s be clear: dental anxiety is real. It’s valid. And like all anxiety, it deserves curiosity, not shame.
* research based on European studies
What Does Dental Anxiety Feel Like?
It can show up differently in everyone. Some people feel dread for days leading up to a check-up. Others avoid appointments for years — even when they’re in pain.
Common signs include:
Racing heart, sweating, or shortness of breath at the dentist
Trouble sleeping before an appointment
Feeling panicked or frozen in the chair
Avoidance of care despite dental issues
Some people carry trauma from previous painful or humiliating dental experiences. Others have a history of general anxiety, PTSD, or a fear of loss of control — and dentistry triggers those same systems.
Why It Happens: It’s Not “Just in Your Head”
From a nervous system perspective, dental procedures can be a perfect storm:
Loss of control: Lying back while someone works in your mouth with sharp tools can feel vulnerable and helpless.
Invasive physical sensations: Loud sounds, close proximity, pressure, and pain — all of these can activate your fight-or-flight response.
Negative past experiences: Even one difficult appointment in childhood can imprint lasting fear.
Research shows the brain can associate the dental environment with threat, especially in people with sensory sensitivity or prior trauma.
How Trauma and Anxiety Intertwine
In my work, I’ve seen how early trauma or adverse experiences can make something like dental work feel overwhelming. When someone’s body learned long ago that they couldn’t escape or speak up, lying in a dentist’s chair can recreate that exact helplessness.
That’s why people with dental anxiety aren’t being “difficult” — they’re having a nervous system reaction, not a character flaw.
Gentle Tools That Help
If you or someone you love struggles with dental fear, here are some approaches that can make a real difference:
1. Tell Your Dentist
Many people don’t mention their anxiety — but it helps to say it out loud. A trauma-informed or anxiety-aware dentist can offer adaptations like:
Slower pace and check-ins
Noise-canceling headphones
Numbing gel before giving anesthetic
Hand signals for breaks
2. Bring Comfort In
Whether it’s a weighted blanket, such wearing a lead apron, a familiar playlist, or lavender oil, sensory grounding tools can help calm the body.
3. Practice Breathing Before and During
Slow exhales signal safety to your nervous system. Try this: Inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 6. Repeat a few times before the appointment and while in the chair.
4. Therapy Can Help
If your anxiety is severe or connected to past trauma, trauma-informed therapy (like EMDR or CBT) can offer relief and coping tools.
Rebuilding Trust Takes Time
Healing from dental anxiety doesn’t mean you’ll start looking forward to cleanings. It means you start reclaiming your sense of control— slowly, and with support.
References
Comments