Dental anxiety could stem from childhood, research finds

The study reveals that a leading cause of dental anxiety stems from childhood. Nearly two-thirds suffering from dental anxiety have a family member who is anxious about going to the dentist, and 36 per cent said this fear has contributed to their own dread.

As a result, this fear is perpetuating a cycle of dental anxiety. One in five parents put off taking their children to the dentist, and 38 per cent of them say their children are nervous about dental appointments.

Unfortunately, this childhood fear has been shown to develop into adult anxiety, with over half of adults reporting severe nervousness about dental appointments. This directly affects dental health, with respondents enduring toothaches, tooth decay, tooth sensitivity and loss of a tooth or teeth as a result. Over 13 per cent of people have resorted to self-treatment, and one in five of those have gone so far as extracting their own teeth.