FOR MANY people, a trip to the dentist is merely a chore; for a significant minority, though, it triggers real fear.
According to a recent survey out of Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), childhood experiences such as bullying, parental separation or abuse may play a key role in the development of what’s known as “dental fear”, Popular Science reports.
According to the magazine, researchers examined responses from over 5,800 adolescents (aged 13–17) in the long-running Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in central Norway, correlating childhood trauma reports with self-reported anxiety about dental visits. They found a clear association: young people who had experienced more stressful life events were more likely to exhibit dental fear.
That connection may seem intuitive — after all, lying back in a dental chair, vulnerable and exposed, with an authority figure leaning over you, can echo earlier feelings of helplessness or loss of control. “The patients lie on their backs in a vulnerable position while an authority figure works inside the mouth,” the study’s lead author, Lena Myran, told Popular Science. “It’s no wonder that dental treatment can be difficult.”
The study also found that dental fear was more prevalent among girls than boys. Myran suggested this might relate to the greater likelihood of girls reporting sexual abuse or developing anxiety and depression in adolescence — factors that may raise vulnerability.
While the research shows correlation — not causation — it nonetheless forces dental professionals to rethink their approach. What has been traditionally regarded as a “fear of the drill” may in some cases be a deeper psychological issue rooted in past traumas.
Understanding this link has practical implications.
For example, if a patient hides their anxiety, or fails to disclose past trauma, a dentist may misinterpret avoidance or non-compliance as mere “nervousness”— when the underlying issue is more complex.
That misdiagnosis may lead to further negative experiences, reinforcing the fear. Indeed, a vicious cycle of dental fear has been documented: fear leads to avoidance, avoidance leads to dental problems, which in turn fuel further fear, PubMed reports.
So what can be done? The researchers recommend that dentists incorporate sensitive communication: simply acknowledging a patient’s fear — even in brief — can make a difference.
According to Popular Science, Myran recommended that patients know that the dentist is not a psychologist, so it does not have to be a long conversation. By taking the patient’s experiences and fears into account, dental professionals can contribute to better dental health and safer patient experiences.
For patients with dental fear rooted in childhood trauma, a few steps may help: find a dentist you trust, mention your anxiety up front, and agree on a signal or break-mechanism during procedures.
Some dental practices now offer “trauma-informed” care models designed to reduce power-imbalance and increase patient control. While research in that area is still developing, it’s an encouraging direction.
In a world where dental visits are often treated purely as mechanical tasks, this research reminds us that fear of dentistry isn’t always about the tools or the chair — it can be about what those tools represent: vulnerability, loss of control and past hurts.
Recognizing that link may be the first step toward helping patients rebuild confidence — and ultimately, healthier smiles.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
