Why So Many People Fear the Dentist

(And Why Coming Back Is Braver Than You Think)

There's a particular kind of shame that lives in a dentist's waiting room. Most people who feel it never talk about it — they just quietly keep putting off the appointment, year after year, while the worry compounds in the background.

In a piece I recently wrote for Medium, I explore where dental fear actually comes from, why it tends to grow the longer we stay away, and what it genuinely feels like — from the dentist's side of the chair — when someone finally decides to come back.

It isn't a clinical article. It's a letter. Written to the person who fills out the intake form and hesitates before writing down the date of their last visit. The person who covers their mouth when they laugh, just slightly, just enough.

If that's you — or someone you know — I'd love for you to read it.

Read the full story on Medium → Here

Dr. Naidoo | Dentist at The Dental People,, Cape Town. Writing about oral health, dental anxiety, and why your smile matters.

Published - April 12, 2026

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