For many people, regular dental check-ups are not high on their list of priorities. The reason is fear, says Dr. Michael Krochak, founder and director of the Dental Phobia Treatment Center of New York and an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. All too often, anxiety causes people to opt out of dental exams altogether. Krochak has a practice full of patients who, prior to seeing him, had not visited a dentist in years.
Some people are afraid of the unknown.
Others are frightened by stories of negative dental experiences from family and friends. Still others associate the dental exam with a feeling of helplessness and a loss of control. Most of the time, however, the fear and anxiety are rooted in traumatic childhood experiences, says Krochak. Perhaps the hygienist made a careless comment during an exam. Or maybe the dentist was insensitive or rough or even inflicted pain.