By Dr. Joseph D. Lim

Here’s a new word: Odontophobia. It’s the fear of dental surgery.

Wisdom-tooth extraction, oral cancer, congenital deformation, or injury correction, all these procedures bring out the primal fear of the dental chair.

“Many, if not most, if not all, patients are very scared when it comes to these surgeries,” says Maria Papageorge, chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Associate Dean of Hospital Affairs at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Tufts University, with campuses in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, is a private research university founded in 1852. Today it is classified among American universities with “very high research activity.”

You need not be fearful, and you can actually do something about it.

Patients can take steps to prepare themselves for oral surgeries, says Dr. Papageorge, who is also an attending surgeon and chair of the Department of Dentistry at Tufts Medical Center.

“I tell all of my patients, ‘The more you know, the better it’s going to be.’ As health professionals, we’re not trying to scare patients with information; it’s just that when you’re prepared for something, when you know what’s going to happen, it reduces the anxiety level, and it goes more smoothly.”

Tufts University shared Dr. Papageorge’s top tips for minimizing anxiety, distress and fear.

Ask questions. Talking to your doctors is the first thing you should do — and the best way to get reliable information.

“I tell my patients, ‘Please don’t look at YouTube,’” says Dr. Papageorge. “Of course, they can, but if they have questions, they should ask us.”

“We have the experience of having seen many patients going through similar procedures; we know what their postoperative course is, and we can relay this information to the patient effectively. The Internet has a wealth of information, but sometimes that scares patients more.”

Talk to others who have been through it. Sometimes former patients are a good source of information about how a procedure will go and what the post-operative experience is like, Dr. Papageorge says. Ask the dentist if that might be an option.

Gather food and other supplies you might need during recovery. “What patients can eat after is a very important question. These procedures usually require a diet of soft foods for some period of time,” she says. “It can be comforting for patients to know they have the necessary items at home and ready to go.”

Make logistical arrangements for after the procedure. First of all, consider the rules for patients undergoing general anesthesia or sedation. You can’t eat or drink anything for six to eight hours prior to surgery, so plan accordingly. Also no driving for 24 hours after the surgery.

If you are a parent of young children or a caretaker of others, you’ll need to plan ahead to ensure that the needs of those who depend on you are met while you’re recovering. “We tell our patients that, postoperatively, they should not be taking care of someone else — they should be taken care of,” says Dr. Papageorge.

Ask for help. Most hospitals and outpatient offices will require an escort to take you home after your procedure. Consider what family members or friends you can rely on to pick you up — and also, crucially, to stay with you for a little while.

“I think it helps every patient after surgery to have some emotional support at home,” Dr. Papageorge says. “Even after less extensive surgeries — multiple tooth extractions, say — the diet is still affected, there’s still pain. And there’s still the need for reassurance and security.”

Also, patients might experience side effects from painkillers or a general reaction to anesthesia or the procedure, so it’s useful to have someone to rely on if you’re experiencing nausea, vomiting or other symptoms. In other words, don’t go it alone — doctor’s orders.

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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; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com./WDJ