Women are two and one-half times more likely than men to fear a visit to the dentist, according to a study published in the June issue of the journal Anesthesia Progress.
Researchers at the University of Toronto surveyed 1,1000 Canadians. They found that 5.5 percent of those surveyed were very afraid of seeing a dentist, and about one-half of those had canceled or avoided a dental appointment as a result, compared with only 5.2 percent of those people who reported having low anxiety.
When researchers extrapolated the data to the adult Canadian population, they found that more than 400,000 people may not have visited the dentist last year owing to fear or anxiety. In addition, more than 1.5 million may have canceled or avoided an appointment at some time in their lives.
"People may get by, but cavities and gum disease can lead to infection and to a serious, systemic health issue," said study co-author Dr. Daniel Haas. "It’s not just a cosmetic issue."
One potential remedy is increased use of general anesthesia or sedation. The survey data indicate that 12.4 percent of those surveyed were definitely interested in those options, with another 42.3 percent expressing interest if the cost were not prohibitive.
"Both dentists and the general public need to be aware that these options are available," said Dr. Haas. "Consider comparable medical procedures—people never even question whether there’s a need for sedation, it’s simply accepted practice."
