Odontiatophobia, a fear of dentists

We're talking about a very common phobia whose scientific name hasn't become part of mainstream language, perhaps because it's such a mouthful to pronounce.

Odontiatophobia is the fear of dentists, as you may have guessed, and people suffering from extreme cases would rather let their teeth fall out of their heads than climb into the dental chair.

Dentists are aware of this phobia, and many take it very personally. Perhaps it's one of the reasons why the dental profession has one of the highest suicide rates in the medical field.

Trying to help patients relax and even enjoy their time in the chair has lead dentists to try a wide variety of distractions. Spa dentistry now offers patients pedicures or massages while they open wide. Other offices install TV screens in the ceilings and supply headphones. The most phobic patients can even try "sleep dentistry," where they are anesthetized into a peaceful slumber while the drill does its work.

Still, dentists might argue that a worse problem is "toothbrush-phobia." If we overcome that, we might spend less time in the dentist's chair.

Resources

Read about other quirky phobias and fears at the Food & Drug Administration Web site.