Dental phobia, or extreme dental fear, is a condition that affects approximately 5% of the population [10, 36]. Patients with extreme dental fear are characterized by intense physiological arousal and feelings of fear before and during dental treatment. Dental fear has been shown to be a major determinant of both dental health and mental well-being [10,16]. For example, in a recent epidemiological study [30], the median number of functional teeth in the age group 55-64 years was 7.5 for individuals with severe dental fear compared to 22 for individuals without dental fear. This makes a substantial difference to oral health, both chewing ability and aesthetics. Furthermore, Aartmann [1] found that patients with dental fear have a higher score on general psychological distress tests than the general population. According to Scott et al.[29], the most common reasons for not seeing a dentist were the cost of the treatment and fear of the dentist. A major problem when treating patients with dental fear is to motivate them for treatment. Many of them have not been to the dentist for years or avoid dental treatment completely. Their latest dental treatment experiences have often been unpleasant extractions after long-standing infections with severe pain. The thought of receiving regular dental treatment without an urgent need for treatment is inconceivable.
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