Most people would rather dodge the dentist than face their fears, as more than half of Brits admit to feeling significant anxiety about dental visits, citing pain, drilling and cost as their top concerns.
A recent nationwide survey by Space Dental, reveals a widespread fear of dental visits among UK residents, with significant anxiety reported across demographics and regions, suggesting that cosmetic dentistry may become a requirement for those who avoided early intervention rather than choice.
- Dental fear is widespread: data reveals that 52% of people experience anxiety about visiting the dentist, suggesting many are avoiding essential care, which can seriously impact oral health.
- Gender differences in dental anxiety: Women are more likely to report dental fear, with 56% expressing anxiety compared to 47% of men.
- Youthful fears: Surprisingly, younger individuals have the highest levels of dental anxiety, with only 37% of those aged 18-24 not fearing the dentist, while this percentage rises to 59% among those aged 65 and over.
- Regional variations: Southampton ranks as the city with the highest dental fear at nearly 66%, followed closely by Newcastle, Brighton and Hove, and Aberystwyth, all at 61% or higher.
- Glasgow’s unique perspective: In Glasgow, pain is less of a concern, with only 19% citing it as a fear, while bad past experiences (33%) and drilling (30%) are more prominent factors driving dental anxiety.
- Primary concerns: Pain is the leading dental fear for 48% of respondents, followed by drilling (41%) and treatment costs (37%). Other significant fears also include needles (31%), bad past experiences (28%), and the unknown (24%).
- Additional factors: Other notable contributors to dental fear include diagnosis anxiety (21%), gag reflex (18%), embarrassment (14%), and loss of control (10%).
Dr Affan, Co-founder and Clinical Director at Space Dental delves into the data and what this could mean for cosmetic dentistry, “Cosmetic dentistry may become necessary for those who avoided early intervention due to fear. As people continue to avoid routine dental care due to anxiety, they may face more serious oral health issues over time, such as tooth decay, gum disease, or damaged teeth. This could lead to a growing demand for treatments like veneers, crowns, or implants, as individuals seek to address the long-term consequences of delayed care.
“This will likely lead to a rise in patients seeking more serious cosmetic treatments in the next decade, not only for aesthetic reasons but also to manage oral health concerns that have worsened. Dental professionals will need to be better equipped to support these patients, focusing on strategies to alleviate dental fear and ensure they receive care before problems become more severe. Offering psychological support and creating a comfortable, stress-free environment will be essential in helping patients overcome their fears and engage in necessary treatments.”
To shed light on why so many people experience this anxiety, Gin Lalli, Solution-Focused Therapist, author of How to Empty Your Stress Bucket and host of the podcast Stress Bucket Solutions, explains the underlying factors contributing to dental fear:
“Common psychological reasons behind dental anxiety often stem from a fear of loss of control or past negative experiences. It can also be linked to the unpredictability of appointments or the fear of pain or embarrassment. To prepare, it’s useful to focus on the outcome rather than the procedure itself. In solution-focused work, we visualise how you’ll feel after the treatment—healthier, more confident—shifting the focus away from the anxiety. Small wins, like simply booking the appointment, build momentum and help calm the mind, creating positive mindset shifts over time.
“Techniques to manage fear include controlled breathing and anchoring thoughts on positive outcomes, staying present and visualising success beyond the procedure, having an open conversation with your dentist about your anxiety, and asking them to explain the results without going into unnecessary details about the procedure itself.”
You can find the full study plus more insight on minimising fear here: https://spacedental.co.uk/dental-fear-survey/
