ArticleJournal of the American Dental Association (1939)2025
A census-matched survey of dental fear and fear-treatment interest in the United States.
Article in Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Trauma, Terror, and Toothpaste: Exploring Memories for Dental Visits Across a Range of Patient Fear.Oral (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe authors aimed to measure dental fear prevalence via the first national census-matched US adult sample and, among fearful people, interest in evidence-based digital fear treatment (ie, computerized, mobile application, and telehealth approaches) or reasons for declining.
methodsA cross-sectional census-matched online survey (n = 1,003) was conducted (October 31-November 11, 2024) ensuring representation of US adult demographic characteristics. Dental fear was assessed using the validated Gatchel single-item scale (from 0 [no fear] through 10 [extreme fear]). People with moderate through severe fear were asked about their interest in digital treatment and, if they refused, about their reasons for declining.
resultsThe prevalence was 72.6% (95% CI, 70.9% to 74.3%), with 45.8% reporting moderate fear and 26.8% reporting severe fear. Among fearful people, 71.2% (95% CI, 69.4% to 73.0%) were interested in digital treatment. Those who declined indicated skepticism about effectiveness (31.8%), satisfaction with their coping strategies (23.4%), and time concerns (22.3%).
conclusionsDental fear remains widespread in the United States, suggesting little progress in prevalence reduction. The high interest in digital treatment indicates demand for accessible interventions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Brief digital dental fear treatments offer potential for widespread dissemination. Public health messaging must address skepticism about treatment effectiveness and value among the fearful patients not yet interested (≈ 30%).
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