How would you rate your dental anxiety from 0 being no anxiety at all to 10 being that you cannot even get a dental cleaning?
If we asked everyone that question, you would see that it’s a spectrum making dental anxiety very common. We see people across the entire spectrum from those that need full sedation to sleep through their appointment otherwise they cannot get through it to people that are addicted to that shiny and clean mouth feel after their appointment and they requesting a cleaning more often. Let’s dive deeper into the numbers.
The Numbers Tell the Story
A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis examining 31 population-based studies estimated that approximately 15% of adults worldwide experience clinically significant dental fear. But that figure only captures the severe end of the spectrum. When you include milder forms of unease and apprehension, estimates climb dramatically — some studies suggest that anywhere from 36% to 75% of adults feel at least some level of anxiety around dental care. For some, it depends on the type of treatment, while cleanings may be routine, a dental filling may give them some pause.
When it comes to more severe dental fear, the kind that causes people to avoid the dental office entirely, roughly 10% to 20% of the population is affected. That’s hundreds of millions of people globally skipping routine teeth cleanings, dental checkups, and preventive care because the fear is unbearable.
What Do the Canadian Numbers Look Like?
Canada is no exception. A national telephone survey of 1,101 Canadians found that 5.5% experience high dental fear and 9.8% report moderate anxiety about dental treatment. When those numbers are extrapolated to the adult population, the picture is staggering: over 400,000 Canadian adults avoided the dentist in a single year because of fear, and more than 1.5 million have missed or cancelled a dental appointment at some point due to anxiety.
It’s not just treatment that they fear. For many, it’s the dental fee. Data from Statistics Canada’s 2022 Canadian Community Health Survey showed that 39.1% of uninsured Canadians avoided dental visits because of cost, compared to 13.7% of those with coverage. When financial barriers stack on top of anxiety, the result is a significant portion of Canadians going without the oral health care they need.
Who Does It Affect Most?
Dental anxiety doesn’t discriminate, but research has identified some clear patterns.
Women tend to report higher levels of dental anxiety than men. One study found that the odds of high dental anxiety were over three times greater for females compared to males. Younger adults also tend to be more anxious about the dentist than older adults — possibly because they’ve had fewer positive experiences to counterbalance the scary stories.
People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to experience dental fear, often because access to quality dental care has been limited, leading to more emergency visits and less familiarity with routine preventive dentistry. And individuals with existing mental health conditions — particularly generalized anxiety disorder, depression, or PTSD — face a significantly higher risk of dental phobia. To understand that distinction better, read Is Dental Anxiety a Mental Illness?
Children Are Especially Vulnerable
Dental anxiety often starts young. A child’s first experience at the dentist can set the tone for a lifetime of either comfort or fear. Research on Canadian adults found that roughly 75% of those with dental fear say it began in childhood or adolescence. Negative early encounters or living under the umbrella of a parent’s anxiety, can live with them for life (unless they take steps to reduce it).
The Ripple Effect on Oral Health
The real problem with dental anxiety being so common is that it directly impacts oral health. People who avoid the dentist are more likely to develop tooth decay, gum disease, and infections that could have been caught early with a simple dental exam. They’re more likely to need complex procedures like root canals or extractions etc. The irony is that the procedures they fear are the ones that come to light because they avoid routine cleanings and checkups.
Find out exactly what that looks like in What Does a Dentist Do for Someone With Anxiety? Skipping regular dental hygiene appointments doesn’t just affect your teeth and gums, either. Poor oral health has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications, and even respiratory infections. The mouth really is a gateway to the rest of your body.
The Good News? It’s Getting Better
Awareness around dental anxiety has grown enormously in recent years. More dental practices are training their teams in anxiety management, offering calming office environments, and providing sedation options that make treatment genuinely comfortable. From nitrous oxide to oral sedation to IV sedation, there’s a solution for every level of fear.
For patients who need the most support, sleep dentistry offers a way to receive comprehensive dental treatment from cleanings to fillings to restorations, while completely relaxed. It’s a real breakthrough for anyone who’s been putting off care.
While dental anxiety is incredibly common, but it shouldn’t stand between you and a healthy smile. The right dental team will meet you where you are and help you move forward at your own pace.
References
- Silveira, E.R. et al. (2021). Estimated prevalence of dental fear in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Dentistry, 108, 103649. medRxiv preprint
- Chanpong, B., Haas, D.A., & Locker, D. (2005). Need and demand for sedation or general anesthesia in dentistry: A national survey of the Canadian population. Anesthesia Progress, 52(1), 3–11. PMC2526218
- Statistics Canada. (2024). Assessing the role of dental insurance in oral health care disparities in Canadian adults. Health Reports, 35(4). Statistics Canada
- Donovan, T. & Kaban, A. (2017). The prevalence of dental anxiety in dental practice settings. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 91(1), 30–34. JDH / ADHA
