It is estimated that more than half of the UK population suffer from dental fear or anxiety.[i] The latest Adult Oral Health Survey found that approximately 42% of participants had moderate dental anxiety, while a further 12% reported an extreme fear or phobia.[ii] More serious concerns were more likely among younger individuals (under 55), females, and those from lower-income households.
All of this means that every dental professional will regularly encounter patients who are hesitant to enter the surgery, sit in the chair, or undergo treatment. As such, it is important to recognise the issue and provide the support patients may need to manage their feelings and encourage access to care.
Understanding where it comes from
Several potential causes of dental anxiety have been identified in the literature.[iii] With a complex and multifactorial aetiology, dental fear is often developed in childhood and carried through to adulthood. This may be a learned behaviour from anxious parents, or the result of personal experiences in the practice. Previous traumatic experiences with a dentist, regardless of age, are a significant indicator of dental phobia. In addition, personality traits like neuroticism and extraversion are associated with an increased likelihood of dental fear, as affected people are usually prone to general anxiety and self-consciousness. Finally, cognitive ability plays a role too. Children with higher intelligence quotients exhibit less anxiety during their first dental visit than those with lower cognitive ability.
Creating a safe space
For dental professionals, the first step in supporting anxious patients is acknowledging their fear. While it may be an obvious barrier for some people, others may take steps to hide their feelings out of fear of embarrassment or judgement. Even worse, many truly phobic patients may avoid dental care altogether,[iv] which will have a detrimental impact on their oral and systemic health in the long-term.
It is the role of the entire dental team to create a space where patients feel safe enough to share their concerns and ask for the additional support they need to seek dental care. This might begin with a simple questionnaire for new patients to complete before even setting foot in the practice. A small yet powerful addition to the new patient consultation documents, this could immediately identify individuals who have additional needs and show them that you take their anxiety seriously from the outset. It is also important to regularly communicate about services available specifically to help anxious patients in newsletters, on the website, and on social media.
Management techniques
Once dental anxiety or fear has been identified, pre-determined measures should be implemented to support that patient. Simple ideas like offering the first appointment of the day to minimise waiting can make a big difference. Some individuals might appreciate being greeted at the door by the dentist or dental nurse. It could also prove useful to make sure fearful individuals always see the same clinical team to avoid exacerbating anxieties by constantly introducing new professional team members.
Dentists also have access to an array of tools to aid the delivery of dental care. One systematic review[v] found merit in distraction therapies that used music, virtual reality technologies, or hypnosis. These help to mask stimuli often associated with negative emotions; hiding the sounds of the dental drill, for instance. Aromatherapy may also be useful in encouraging relaxation and creating a more pleasant dental environment.
Another adjunctive therapy that has shown initial promise in the research for reducing anxiety is acupuncture.[vi] A useful technique for any anxiety disorders, it offers a safe and cheap solution to help patients relax in the dental chair. There is also initial evidence suggesting that dog-assisted therapy can be effective for anxious children visiting the dental practice.[vii] Though a little more difficult to implement for most modern dental providers, it is food for thought for the future of dental care.
A smooth experience for all
Aside from specific techniques to identify and help manage patient anxieties, it is important to deliver an efficient overall patient experience. All visitors to the practice will appreciate – and expect – a warm greeting from the team, appointment punctuality, and high-quality dental treatment. For nervous patients, a smooth, well-coordinated workflow that promotes comfort and minimises unexpected disruptions or last-minute changes will be especially important.
To ensure you can provide the most predictable outcomes in comfortable facilities, your practice design is key. For expert help in assessing your current set-up, finding new equipment to elevate your patient care, and ongoing technical support, look no further than Dental Directory. We offer thousands of cutting-edge innovations and industry-leading products that enable exceptional dental care and superior productivity, complemented by comprehensive equipment installation and maintenance services.
Quality care comes first
Dental anxiety and fear are common across the globe, with dental professionals likely to encounter affected patients in the UK on a daily basis. A complex issue, it requires a multifactorial approach to help individuals manage their symptoms. With proven adjunctive therapies, an empathetic professional team, high-quality dental procedures, and a smooth treatment experience, nervous patients can be effectively supported to better oral and general health.
For more information on the products and maintenance services available from Dental Directory, please visit ddgroup.com or call 0800 585 586
Author: Dean Hallows, Managing Director of Dental Directory
[i] Dentalphobia.co.uk. Are you afraid of the dentist? https://www.dentalphobia.co.uk/. [Accessed March 2026]
[ii] Adult oral health survey 2021: service use and barriers to accessing care. January 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/adult-oral-health-survey-2021/adult-oral-health-survey-2021-service-use-and-barriers-to-accessing-care#:~:text=Prevalence%20of%20dental%20anxiety,a%20local%20anaesthetic%20injection:%2025%25 [Accessed March 2026]
[iii] Beaton L, Freeman R, Humphris G. Why are people afraid of the dentist? Observations and explanations. Med Princ Pract. 2014;23(4):295-301. doi: 10.1159/000357223. Epub 2013 Dec 20. PMID: 24356305; PMCID: PMC5586885.
[iv] Cohen, S., Fiske, J. & Newton, J. The impact of dental anxiety on daily living. Br Dent J 189, 385–390 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4800777
[v] Hoffmann B, Erwood K, Ncomanzi S, Fischer V, O’Brien D, Lee A. Management strategies for adult patients with dental anxiety in the dental clinic: a systematic review. Aust Dent J. 2022 Mar;67 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S3-S13. doi: 10.1111/adj.12926. Epub 2022 Jul 12. PMID: 35735746; PMCID: PMC9796536.
[vi] Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ. Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 30;20(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5. PMID: 33516258; PMCID: PMC7847562.
[vii] Garrocho-Rangel A, Rosales-Bérber M, Ríos-Méndez D, Flores-Velázquez J, Trejo-Herbert D, Pozos-Guillén F, Pozos-Guillén A. Dog-Assisted Therapy (DAT) for the management of anxiety during paediatric dental care. A scoping review. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2024 Jun 3;25(2):120-125. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2024.2001. Epub 2024 Mar 1. PMID: 38501910.
