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Scared of the dentist? Spanish research says a good podcast could be all you need
Odontophobia affects one in six people in Spain, but researchers at a Spanish university think they've cracked it
If going to the dentist fills you with dread, you're in very good company. Odontophobia, the clinical term for an irrational fear of dental treatment, affects around 15% of the population in Spain, and for many people it's enough to put them off going altogether.
Researchers at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona have been looking into what might help, and their findings are both surprising and pretty encouraging.
The study tested the effects of audio stimulation on patients undergoing procedures like extractions, implants and surgery at a dental clinic in Castellón. Participants put on headphones and listened to either suspenseful fiction podcasts or immersive soundscapes, including a recreation of a gentle walk through woodland, both before and during their treatment.
The results were pretty convincing, with 72% of patients reporting that the audio made them feel genuinely relaxed, 65% saying the appointment seemed to pass more quickly and 73% actually registering a drop in heart rate while listening. That last one is hard to fake.
The research forms part of a doctoral thesis by Berenice Ponce, who explains that dental patients are often dealing with a lot at once, having to keep their mouths open, hearing unfamiliar sounds all around them and essentially putting themselves entirely in someone else's hands. Getting a patient to shift their focus onto something else entirely, she says, is already a hugely positive outcome.
Several participants apparently said they had never felt so well looked after at a dentist in their lives.
Interestingly, the fiction podcasts came out on top over the soundscapes. The theory is that a compelling story pulls the brain into a different world by triggering the imagination, giving it something vivid to focus on rather than whatever is happening in the chair.
Speaking of dentists, if you're on Camposol and have been putting off a visit, the Camposol Dental Clinic is well worth knowing about. Dr Diana Molino speaks excellent English and has built up a lot of experience working with residents in the area, offering everything from fillings and crowns to implants, dentures, teeth whitening and deep cleaning. New patients can also take advantage of a free dental check-up and prices are very competitive across the board.
The clinic is in the Camposol Business Centre, with the entrance now located behind the farmacia. To book an appointment, call 0034 685 098 667.
The surgery is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 2.30pm and again from 4pm to 7pm.
Image: PFU
