Dental Hygienist School Insight:
Redheads Fear Dentists More Than Most

Blonds and brunettes might have dental phobias. But scientific research says that redheads fear dentists most of all.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recently published a report indicating that painful dental experiences cause greater anxiety in redheads. Not coincidentally, redheads are twice as likely to skip dental visits as their non-redhead counterparts.

In addition, research conducted in 2004 found that redheads typically require 20 percent more general anesthesia than blonds or brunettes. And a 2005 study confirmed that redheads have a greater resistance to local anesthesia.

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Because they may need more anesthesia to take the pain out of dental work, redheads might actually endure more pain while sitting in the dental chair. Memories of that pain can create lifelong fears and anxiety about dentists and dentistry.

What causes redheads to have more sensitivity to pain? According to CNNhealth.com, it may be a variant in the gene that produces melanin, which gives skin, hair and eyes their color.

While more research is needed, dentists and dental assistants can help alleviate apprehension in patients in several ways. These include asking about their patients' past dental experiences, paying attention to their anxiety level and being sure they are completely anesthetized before starting a procedure.

Dental hygienist schools will teach you these tricks and more. Then when you get your first dental assistant job, you'll be able to alleviate the fears of redheads…blonds and brunettes. The more they come to see you, the better their oral health will be.

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