{"id":29229,"date":"2025-06-02T09:41:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T14:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aae.org\/specialty\/?p=29229"},"modified":"2025-06-02T09:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T14:43:09","slug":"new-survey-finds-gen-z-millennials-most-vulnerable-to-online-dental-misinformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aae.org\/specialty\/new-survey-finds-gen-z-millennials-most-vulnerable-to-online-dental-misinformation\/","title":{"rendered":"New Survey Finds Gen Z, Millennials Most Vulnerable to Online Dental Misinformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Endodontists fear online misinformation causing confusion, delays in routine dental care and treatments<\/em><\/p>\n

With growing concern over the rise of health misinformation online, endodontists, dentists with advanced training in saving natural teeth, are sounding the alarm \u2013 younger generations are being dangerously misled by false claims spreading across social media, from root canal treatments to fluoride in drinking water.<\/p>\n

A new survey by the American Association of Endodontists confirms dental experts\u2019 worst fears about online fear mongering. Specifically, nearly half of Gen Z respondents (48%) and millennials (46%) say they are afraid of having a root canal, compared to only 38% of the overall sample. For many, the fear of root canals comes from what they have seen online \u2013 with 40% of Gen Z respondents and 36% of millennials reporting that they always or often struggle to distinguish between myths and facts when reading about dental health online.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are concerned that fear and misinformation is contributing to younger adults avoiding the dental chair, as nearly half of both Gen Z and millennial adults surveyed admitted to only going to the dentist when experiencing pain in their mouth,\u201d said Steven J. Katz, DDS, MS, President of the American Association of Endodontists. \u201cPeople who do not get routine dental care are at risk for serious tooth decay which can lead to overall health issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Getting to the Root of Root Canal Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n

While misinformation can add to patients\u2019 overall misconceptions about the procedure, root canal treatment is an often straightforward procedure to relieve dental pain and save natural teeth. Patients typically need a root canal when there is inflammation or infection in the roots of a tooth. During root canal treatment, an endodontist carefully removes the pulp from inside of the tooth, cleans, disinfects and shapes the root canals, and places a filling to seal the space.<\/p>\n

The survey found that 45% of adults say they have had a root canal, and 71% of adults who have undergone a root canal report they are glad they chose to have a root canal instead of a tooth extraction. In fact, tooth extractions evoke a strong negative reaction among those surveyed, with 29% indicating that they would rather get the flu than have a tooth extracted.<\/p>\n

Regrets from Following Online Health Advice Piling Up
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\nThe 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer confirmed that more younger people are turning to health advice from \u201cnon-experts\u201d \u2013 but oftentimes regret their decision afterward. The survey found that 45% of people aged 18-34 reported that \u201cuncertified\u201d voices impact decisions they make about their health, including influencers, content creators, and peers. However, more than half of this group (58%) admitted they have made a regrettable health decision based on misinformation from social media.<\/p>\n

Based on the results of the AAE survey, Dr. Katz acknowledged that people have trouble deciphering fact from fiction when searching for oral health information online. Specifically, nearly 1 in 3 adults (30%) said that when reading about dental health online, they always or often struggle to distinguish between myths and facts \u2013 which Dr. Katz believes gives influencers an opening to spread misinformation about not only dental health, but overall health as well.<\/p>\n

AAE Survey Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dental Habits<\/p>\n