Dental fear and anxiety in children

Fear and anxiety are conditions that contribute to in an evolutionary context [6]. Various cognitive, neurobiological, emotional and behavioral responses are triggered when confronted with a dangerous situation and these allow us to protect ourselves [2]. Our focus is on danger and the body is preparing for a fight or flight (the hormone adrenaline is released to increase strength and endurance, the heart beats faster to pump blood into the main muscle groups, the body begins to sweat, to maintain optimal temperature). Although these survival reactions are useful in situations where there is a real danger, in cases where there is no real threat, instinctive fear do not help and can increase distress. For example, children begin to worry because they do not understand what is happening to them. Therefore, the first thing practicing dentists can do to support anxious patients is to explain the essence of the fear response and normalize feelings of anxiety.

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