BERLIN, Germany: Even though the majority of Germans attend regular dental check-ups, 12 per cent suffer from extreme dental phobia, a survey has found. Every second patient reported being a little afraid of seeing a dentist, whereas one out of three is not afraid at all. The survey results are similar to those found in other countries, such as the USA and Australia.

Nearly 1,800 participants took part in the survey, which was conducted by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research (Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach) and the Institute of German Dentists (Institut der Deutschen Zahnärzte).

“There are treatment possibilities such as psychotherapy and hypnosis available for the minority of patients who avoid seeing a dentist because their fear is so severe,” said Dr. Jürgen Fedderwitz, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (Kassenzahnärztliche Bundesvereinigung). “If a phobia has been attested by a doctor, even a general anaesthetic could come into consideration.”

However, most German patients settle for local anaesthetics only. According to the latest research published by Initiative proDente, a consortium of five German dental associations, dentists in the country administer around 52 million doses of local anaesthetics a year.

Side-effects are rather uncommon. Long-term research over a period of 25 years (1975 to 2000) found 3,335 side-effects in 775 million injections, which is equivalent to one side-effect for every 232,384 doses of local anaesthetic administered. In most cases, patients suffered from circulatory disturbance, vertigo or breathing difficulties.