Why do people fear Friday the 13th? Is it because they watched too many horror films? Actually, Friday the 13th phobia, or Friggatriskaidekaphobia, is an actual psychological condition originally identified hundreds of years ago. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, between 17 and 21-million Americans suffer from Friggatriskaidekaphobia.
A phobia, a strong, irrational fear of something, poses little or no actual danger. When people cannot avoid facing their phobias, they may experience panic, rapid heartbeats, shortness of breath, trembling, and a strong desire to escape. Some common phobias are:
- Agoraphobia – fear of public places
- Acrophobia – fear of heights
- Claustrophobia – fear of closed-in places
- Arachnophobia – fear of spiders
- Gephyrophobia – fear of crossing bridge
Dentophobia is the fear of dentists, that can eventually lead to serious consequences, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. People who suffer from dentophobia may postpone going to the dentist until they experience excruciating pain due to untreated dental issues, and the pain may increase their phobia.
I’m Dr. Corbet Locke, a Waco sedation dentist. My dental office caters to patients who suffer from dentophobia. We offer creative solutions, like oral sedation. Patients can take an oral sedative one hour prior to their appointment and rest comfortably throughout a dental procedure. They remain alert during the visit, but often have no recollection afterward. Oral sedation enables millions of dentophobics to receive professional oral care.
If you suffer from dentophobia, contact my Waco dental office at (254)776-4888 to schedule an appointment. Thirty percent of patients avoid the dentist, many because of dentophobia. Allow me to alleviate your fears and provide you with a comfortable and relaxing dental visit. I am a member of the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation and serve patients of Waco, Woodway, Hewitt, and the Central Texas area.