The Science: Why Dental Fear Runs So Deep
The mouth is one of the most vulnerable, sensitive areas of the body. It's packed with nerve endings, and dental procedures involve metal instruments near soft tissue in a space you can't see. Add the inability to speak while your mouth is full of equipment, the helpless position of lying back with someone looming over you, and the sounds and smells that trigger past traumatic experiences—and you have a perfect storm for the amygdala's alarm system.
Dental phobia often begins with a specific traumatic experience: a painful procedure, a rough dentist, being held down as a child. The brain encodes this as life-threatening (because the pain signals were intense and escape was impossible), and every subsequent dental visit triggers the same fear response. This is classic conditioning—the chair, the lights, the smell of the office all become triggers that fire before any actual procedure begins.
Tapping works by deactivating the amygdala's learned response. When you tap while focusing on dental-related fears, you're essentially teaching your nervous system that these memories and anticipations can exist without triggering full fight-or-flight. Studies show Tapping can reduce phobic responses in as little as one session, though dental fear—with its often deep roots—typically benefits from sustained practice before appointments.
The avoidance trap: The longer you avoid the dentist, the worse your dental health becomes, and the more likely your next visit will involve painful procedures—reinforcing the fear. Breaking this cycle often requires addressing the fear directly, not just gritting through appointments.
Real Results
Jane
"I started Tapping from your and Jessica's videos because I thought it might help my huge fear of dental treatment. I had had this fear since I was a very small child and it just grew. I have tried 3 different hypnotherapists and also worked on myself in various ways using flower remedies, crystal healing and etc. to try to reduce the fear. As a child I was extremely anxious about each trip to the dentist for a check-up and used to count the weeks and months to the next dreaded appointment. Basically it blighted my life. I was so very terrified."
Jane's fear had deep roots in traumatic childhood experiences with the school dentist in England—extractions without explanation, gas masks placed over her face, complete terror. She would faint at the dentist as her body's way of escaping. After decades of trying different approaches, she found Tapping. I did a few Tapping sessions, some from Jessica's video meditations and some I made up for myself about my personal fear. Amazingly during that appointment I was able to talk to the dentist and her assistant more like a 'normal' person. I was able to handle the whole experience in a much calmer and more sensible way. I no longer have that terrible jolt (a feeling of being punched in the chest or stomach) every time the dentist comes to mind. This is a huge step forward for me and I feel tears coming to my eyes just from writing down the relief of finding something that helped me so quickly. I am in my 70's and it has taken that long for me to find what works for me.
Nela
"Last week I was sitting in the dentist's chair waiting while the freezing took effect before an extraction process could begin (not happy about that, but it was the only viable alternative). I decided to do something proactive about what I had to face, and I began Tapping, having only recently learned the procedure from your movie."
Nela had just learned Tapping and decided to put it to the test during one of the most anxiety-inducing dental procedures—a tooth extraction. Rather than sitting passively with her fear, she chose to tap while waiting for the anesthesia to work. I honestly don't think I could have gone through the surgery with such good spirits if I had not done the Tapping. I now begin my workday with a Tapping session.
J&T
"I had a fear of Dentists—understandable as I had had a hole drilled in my tongue during one visit to a Dentist when I was about 11 or 12—but overcame that to have some cosmetic work done and a broken tooth fixed."
After overcoming her initial fear through Tapping, this person discovered something unexpected: the dentist's chair became productive Tapping time. During extensive dental work requiring hours of drilling, she tapped continuously—not for dental fear, but to clear other life issues. During the hours and hours of drilling—3.5 hrs the first time—I tapped and tapped but not for the fear of the Dentist, I had overcome that fear using Tapping, but to clear a whole list of issues. It was such good quality time, being at the Dentist and continually Tapping, I was a tad disappointed when the work came to an end! I believe I have done so much Tapping about anger and/or teeth that I have re-wired my brain, hence I didn't suffer any pain with this second abscess!
Preparing for Dental Appointments
Start early: Don't wait until the day before. Tap on dental fears regularly in the weeks leading up to appointments.
Process the past: If you can identify the experience that started your fear, tap directly on that memory. The current fear is often old fear wearing present clothes.
Use it in the chair: You can press on finger points discreetly during procedures. Ask for breaks if you need them.
Reduce Your Dental Anxiety
Use these sessions before dental appointments or to process dental fears.