‘Dental phobia’ care provided in U.S.

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 23

‘Dental phobia’ care provided in U.S.

NZPA-AFP New York The days when people had nightmares at the very thought of going to the dentist might be a thing of the past as a result of special “dental phobia” clinics. Many American adults become deeply anxious about the thought of going to a dentist. Legs turn to putty, hands become moist and the heart has palpitations. Many opt out and fail to turn up for a dental appointment. “It is normal to be scared,” said a dental surgeon at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York, Dr Theodore Goldstein. “It is painful. Those who say it isn’t are lying.”

Six years ago, with Dr Gordon Rubin, Dr Goldstein began treating “dental phobia.” He aims at the “desensitisation” of the patient, and claims 70 per cent success.

The centre treats an average of eight patients weekly, each attending four sessions for their dental phobias. About 250 American dental surgeons have set up their own phobia clinics. The first contact between dentist and patient at the Mount Sinai Centre is an interview in a room without any dental instruments or equipment. There are 14 graded fears, from sitting in the waiting room, the sight of the dentist, the taking of X-

rays, dental injections and the worst nightmare — the drill.

“Usually they are afraid because they had a bad experience as children,” Dr Goldstein said.

“They have to learn how to relax and how to trust the dentist.” Relaxation methods differ according to the wishes of the patient. Some want to listen to music through earphones, to hide the noise of the drill. Others prefer to have their eyes covered, so they cannot see what is going on. Some patients ask for a guitarist if available, and there is also hypnosis, to make them believe they are in a plane flying to a sunny Tahiti beach.