Nearly three out of four adults in the United States report fear of going to the dentist, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) and led by researchers at NYU College of Dentistry. The findings also show that most people who experience dental fear are open to treatment, particularly options that can be completed at home.
According to NYU College of Dentistry, the study surveyed 1,003 adults representative of the U.S. population by age, gender, race, education level, region, and household income. It found that 72.6 percent reported some level of dental fear. Of those, 45.8 percent described moderate fear and 26.8 percent reported severe fear.
“While dental fear is highly treatable, few professionals have received relevant training or offer treatment. Brief, virtual dental fear treatments using apps and telehealth have the potential to reach many people, regardless of where they live,” said Richard Heyman, a professor in the NYU Dentistry Center for Oral Health Policy and Management and co-director of the NYU Dentistry Family Translational Research Group.
The study, published in the September 2025 issue of JADA, also found that 71.2 percent of individuals with moderate or severe fear expressed interest in a free, brief treatment that could be completed at home. Reasons cited by those who declined included doubts about effectiveness, satisfaction with current coping strategies, or time concerns.
Heyman and colleagues at NYU College of Dentistry have developed a program called Dental FearLess, which combines an app with an optional one-on-one telehealth session. It is based on cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques. According to NYU College of Dentistry, a pilot study found that half of participants who completed the program were no longer fearful. The program is currently being tested in an ongoing clinical trial.
“A better understanding of dental fear—and how to increase access to effective treatments for it—holds promise for improving oral and overall health,” Heyman said. “While the widespread prevalence of dental fear suggests it may actually be growing in the general population, we are making progress in expanding the access to treatment.”
In a related study published September 2, 2025, in the journal Oral, researchers at NYU College of Dentistry examined the role of memory in developing and maintaining dental fear. The study analyzed survey data and written reflections from parents regarding their own and their children’s dental fear.
According to NYU College of Dentistry, many individuals reported memories of pain and negative interactions with dental professionals. Some cited outdated and no longer recommended practices, such as a dentist placing a hand over a child’s mouth to stop disruptive behavior. Others described feeling humiliated, ignored, or mistrustful of provider recommendations.
“Memories of traumatic dental care can be remarkably vivid and tend to have lifelong implications,” said Kelly Daly, an assistant research scientist in NYU Dentistry’s Family Translational Research Group. “The salience of these memories — particularly ones from childhood — and ways that lifelong oral healthcare can be compromised are important lessons for practicing dental providers. Many of these negative experiences can be avoided with open and transparent communication between providers and patients.”
The JADA study was authored by Heyman, Daly, Salomi Aladia, Sarah Harris, Nicole Roitman, Annette Kim, and Amy Smith Slep of NYU Dentistry. The Oral study was authored by Heyman, Daly, Jennie Ochshorn, Ronni Lipnitsky, Adrianna Rozbicka, and Sidhant Athilat of NYU Dentistry, as well as Suher Baker of the Brooker Memorial Institute Pediatric Dental Center and Allan Pike, a leader in pediatric dentistry.
According to NYU College of Dentistry, both studies were supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (UH3DE029453), part of the National Institutes of Health. The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
