Anxiety causes panicking due to perceptions in the mind. Perceptions can be formed leading to fear of the dentist.

This causes a rift in the relationship between a patient and the doctor. The doctor will, therefore, have a hard time dealing with the patient in fear. Fear of the doctor often leads to the following:

Negative attitude towards a procedure

The attitude the patient has determines their reaction towards certain procedures. This causes the patient to fear simple procedures and hence avoid treatment in most cases. The dental check-up should be done after every 6 months. Most people end up ignoring this and hence the result can be loss of teeth, gum disease and infections.

Negative attitude towards the Doctor and clinic

Perceptions formed by the patient can make them avoid qualified doctors. The perceptions are usually from past experiences or experiences of close friends and relatives. The patient should, therefore, do thorough research on a clinic to avoid basing their facts on rumours.

Overcoming fear

The patient can overcome their fear by;

· Pick an appointment time early in the morning so you have less time to dwell on it.

· The first appointment will simply be a check-up so don't worry about having any treatment. See this first visit as your chance to get to know the dentist.

· Take a friend with you to your appointment. The dentist won't mind if they accompany you throughout the check-up or treatment.

· Agree to sign with the dentist to signal that you need a break and want them to stop. It can be as simple as pointing your finger and will help you feel more in control.

· If you think it will help, start gradually with a clean and polish then work up to other treatments, such as fillings, once you've built up trust and rapport with your dentist.

· Talk to the dentist about using a numbing gel if you have a fear of needles.

· Use headphones to listen to music during your visit. It may help you relax.