Dental anxiety: you are far from alone
According to a worldwide meta-analysis, about 15% of adults have dental fear or anxiety, and about 3% have severe dental anxiety.
A meta-analysis of 72,577 adults estimated the prevalence of dental fear or anxiety at 15.3%, high dental anxiety at 12.4% and severe dental anxiety at 3.3%. These are overlapping categories of the same population, not figures to be added together. Rates were higher among women and young adults (Silveira et al., Journal of Dentistry, 2021).
Behind these numbers are people who put off necessary treatment every day because they are afraid. If you are looking for a dentist for anxious patients, the clinic of Dr Haim Aseriel, a US-trained dentist in Jerusalem, adapts treatment to each patient's pace and needs.
What is dental anxiety, and why are we afraid of the dentist?
Dental anxiety is not a weakness of character: it is a recognized psychological reaction, often rooted in past experiences.
Clinically, dental anxiety has a few common sources: a painful past experience at the dentist, a feeling of losing all control in the chair, fear of tooth pain during treatment, and a lack of trust in the dental team.
16.4%
had dental anxiety
In a population study of 1,420 people, 16.4% had dental anxiety, and 49.6% of them showed a simple conditioned phobia linked to a specific experience (Locker et al., Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1999).
Dental anxiety is more common among women: the Silveira meta-analysis found higher rates in women, and a study of 522 participants found a significant association between female sex and dental anxiety (Muneer et al., Healthcare (Basel), 2022).
Ignoring dental anxiety is not the answer
Many patients come in after years without a check-up, when the condition of their mouth has seriously deteriorated, often after booking and canceling appointments at the last minute.
Avoiding dental care creates a cycle of accumulating damage that is hard to break without professional help.
Anxiety leads to canceled appointments, cancellations lead to worsening teeth, and worsening teeth increase shame and fear, which reinforces avoidance. A study of 107 patients with severe dental anxiety in Norway found a marked impact on oral health-related quality of life (Aardal et al., European Journal of Oral Sciences, 2023).
An experienced, compassionate dentist knows this cycle and how to break it.
Why is avoidance so risky? Because untreated teeth do not "stay as they are": they get worse.
A neglected small cavity can end up needing root canal treatment. Untreated early gum inflammation can progress to advanced gum disease (periodontitis). Preventive care and hygienist visits help detect and stop problems early, before they require complex treatment that would increase anxiety.
What does a first visit look like?
For an anxious patient, the first visit can be a consultation only, with no treatment. It follows four steps:
01
Conversation
We talk about your fears, your past experiences and what makes the dental chair difficult for you.
02
Explanation
After the examination, the dentist explains what was found, which options exist and in what order to treat.
03
Stop signal
You agree in advance on a clear signal, such as raising a hand, to ask for a break at any moment.
04
Adapted pace
Treatment starts with the simplest procedures and moves forward gradually, at a pace you are comfortable with. The team is attentive to signs of anxiety and slows down accordingly.
Children can be afraid of the dentist too: see our page on the pediatric dentist in Jerusalem for how a child is prepared and treated.
Examination, treatment plan and price quote
detailed and personalized
During the consultation, Dr Haim Aseriel examines your teeth, explains all the options and gives you a transparent price quote, with no obligation. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, Jerusalem.
How a gentle, step-by-step approach helps nervous patients
Treating dental anxiety combines psychological and medical tools, not just "being nice" to the patient.
- Light oral sedation: a sedative taken before treatment, on prescription, when appropriate.
- Local anesthesia: treatment is done under local anesthesia.
Most anxious patients can be treated under local anesthesia, with explanations beforehand and an adapted pace. When these measures are not enough, the clinic offers light oral sedation on prescription, after a prior medical assessment (ADA, 2016).
Can a dentist prescribe a sedative before treatment?
A frequent question before a first visit: can I get something to help me relax?
Yes: Dr Aseriel can prescribe light oral sedation before dental treatment, depending on your medical condition.
Sedative medication
In suitable cases, the dentist may prescribe a sedative to take before treatment. The type of medication and the dose are decided by the dentist only, after reviewing your medical history, the medications you take and your general health. Never take a sedative without a prescription, or combine it with other medications or substances without instructions.
Come with an escort
A patient who has taken a sedative must come with an escort and must not drive afterwards.
Planning treatment in advance, with a panoramic X-ray when it is indicated, can shorten time in the chair, which reduces anxiety even before treatment begins.
A compassionate dentist, at your pace
For many anxious patients, simply coming to a first consultation where no treatment is done is already a turning point: they discover that they keep control.
Case from the clinic
A 42-year-old man had not seen a dentist for 11 years because of severe anxiety. At his first consultation, where no treatment was done, he realized that he had room to stay in control.
The clinic offers a wide range of dental treatments under one roof, so you do not have to move between clinics and new teams. Its philosophy is to preserve natural teeth: a natural tooth that can be saved is preferable to an implant. For anxious patients, this also means fewer invasive procedures over time. Every treatment plan is built together with you, at a pace that suits you.
Many patients search for "pain-free dentistry": no dentist can honestly promise that, but treatment under local anesthesia, a gentle approach and the possibility to pause at any time make it far more comfortable. The team speaks English, Hebrew and French, and patients describe their experience in the clinic's Google reviews.
Dental anxiety: a recognized medical problem
Sweden is an example: since 1999, treatment of dental phobia has been largely covered by public funding and available in all regions (Wide & Hakeberg, Dentistry Journal, 2021), an official recognition that dental anxiety is a legitimate medical problem that deserves professional treatment.
Every patient receives a personalized treatment plan with a clear, detailed written estimate. Anxious patients who come for a consultation often find that they need less treatment than they feared. Often the hardest step is simply picking up the phone: call 03-912-1879 (Sun 8:00–19:00 · Mon 9:00–19:00 · Tue–Wed 9:00–21:00 · Thu 8:30–21:00 · Fri 8:00–14:00). The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street in Talpiot, south Jerusalem. To learn more about the dentist, see Dr Haim Aseriel and how to choose a dentist in Jerusalem.
Dental anxiety: frequently asked questions
Dental anxiety is common: according to a worldwide meta-analysis of 72,577 adults, about 15% of adults have dental fear or anxiety, and about 3% have severe dental anxiety (Silveira et al., Journal of Dentistry, 2021). Rates are higher among women and young adults.
Dental anxiety is not a weakness of character but a recognized psychological reaction, often based on past experiences. Common sources include a painful past experience at the dentist, a feeling of losing control in the dental chair, fear of pain during treatment and a lack of trust in the dental team.
Avoiding the dentist is risky because untreated teeth do not stay the same: they get worse. Delaying dental care turns a small problem, such as a small cavity or early gum inflammation, into damage that needs more invasive and complex treatment.
Yes. A dentist can prescribe a sedative to take before dental treatment, by prescription only and according to the patient's medical condition and other medications. A patient who has taken a sedative must come with an escort and must not drive afterwards.
What helps an anxious patient is a full explanation before each step, an agreed stop signal and a pace adapted to the patient. Most anxious patients can be treated under local anesthesia; when these measures are not enough, light oral sedation on prescription can be considered.
Sources
- Silveira ER et al., Journal of Dentistry, 2021 – View the study
- Locker D et al., Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1999 – View the study
- Muneer MU et al., Healthcare (Basel), 2022 – View the study
- Aardal V et al., European Journal of Oral Sciences, 2023 – View the study
- Wide U & Hakeberg M, Dentistry Journal, 2021 – View the study
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Behavior Guidance for the Pediatric Dental Patient – View the guideline
- American Dental Association, Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists, 2016 – View the guideline
