Key Takeaways

Most American adults are afraid of the dentistNearly 3 out of 4 adults report some level of fearThese fears are frequently rooted in childhood experiences

TUESDAY, Sept. 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Afraid of the dentist? You’re far from alone, a new study says.

Nearly 3 of 4 adults fear going to the dentist, researchers report in the September issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association .

That means dental fear is even more widespread than earlier thought. Estimates had held that only about a quarter of Americans were anxious about visiting the dentist, researchers said in background notes.

Instead, nearly 73% of U.S. adults said they had some dental fear, including about 46% with moderate fear and 27% with extreme fear, according to poll results.

These f

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