Introduction: We all fear pain and this is a well-known reason why people avoid visiting the dentist. Most end up having serious periodontal problems leading to tooth loss. Around 4-11% of people suffer from dental phobias and avoid seeing a dentist at all costs. Many of them end up in emergency situations requiring invasive procedures like extraction or pulpotomy, which further reinforces their phobia. What causes dental phobia? About 75% of these patients had a bad childhood experience in a dentist's office. Another 25% suffer from other problems like post-traumatic stress disorder, e.g. veterans, domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, for which dental phobia becomes a unpleasant side effect. Additionally, many of these patients did not have good access to dental care. Vicarious experiences such as hearing about traumatic experiences or a friend or family member's opinion about dentistry can also contribute to the development of phobias. Patients feel fear not so much because of the actual pain, but rather because of the lack of control they feel while lying in a dental chair. . This creates a lot of anxiety for some patients because they don't feel helpless. Most dentists continue to treat all patients the same, assuming they all have a similar level of pain and will handle the procedure the same way. Dentists must be attentive to their patients' tolerance level and inform them in advance of the entire procedure so that they are able to handle unexpected situations. They must take the time to make sure the patient feels comfortable at every step. The use of medications and a wide range of techniques can help patients eliminate pain and anxiety and make visits to the dentist a pleasant experience...... middle of paper .... .., patience and behavior management training. This is very important because data suggests that there is no difference between the oral health outcomes of people who have a fear of teeth and those who do not. Appropriate techniques such as behavior modification, sedation, medications, etc. can help patients recognize and overcome their fear and modify their use of dental behavior. This will build trust and increase patient compliance. Works Cited 1. Predicting dental avoidance in dental-fearing Australian adults. Armfield JM.2. The effects of dental anxiety and irregular attendance on referral for sedated dental treatment in the National Health Service, London. Milgrom P, Newton JT, Boyle C, Heaton LJ, Donaldson N.3. Effect of fear on dental care utilization behaviors and oral health outcomes. Meng X, Heft MW, Bradley MM, Lang PJ.