In the United States today, statistics about dental health don’t paint a pretty or healthy picture.

As much as one in five Americans suffer some level of dental fear .

For 20% , that fear is acute, and ultimately prevents 5-8% of Americans from going to the dentist at all. (For some global context, 25% of Brits suffer anxiety prior to appointments.) As a result, the US is facing a health epidemic. It only takes a couple clicks to see its breadth. The National Institute of Health has written about it. As has USA Today and The Huffington Post.