How Much Is Dental Anxiety Costing Your Practice?
24
Longer visits or special measures.
Estimated monthly impact
$1,836/mo
24 patients each month need extra time or support.
What if more of those appointments went smoothly?
Paperplane uses VR to help patients stay calm, still and engaged during treatment.
VR backed by clinical results
2.05×
odds of controlled anxiety
41%
lower observed pain
9.3/10
parent satisfaction
Learn more about the clinical results (preliminary, unpublished) ›
Your numbers
Potential monthly value: $734 · Paperplane membership: −$99
Study design & population RCT · PRELIMINARY
Randomized, parallel-group trial at CHU Sainte-Justine. 385 children aged 6–17, 34% neurodivergent. Results are preliminary and not yet peer-reviewed or published.
Comparison group
Paperplane VR was compared against active tablet/TV distraction, the standard non-pharmacological comfort measure (nitrous oxide cases excluded so results aren't confounded by sedation).
Results
Anxiety stayed controlled at roughly 2.05× the odds of the tablet/TV group (p = 0.003). Observed pain fell 41% (FLACC-R 1.7 → 1.0). Parent satisfaction averaged 9.3/10 vs 8.6 in the control group.
Side effects
About 5% reported mild, temporary effects (headache or fatigue); no serious adverse events.
Neurodivergent patients
34% of participants were neurodivergent, with gains in anxiety control and cooperation similar to the study overall.
The cost-of-fear pilot COST PILOT
A separate study (Baker et al., WDC 2024) compared 89 fearful children to 89 matched, non-fearful children and found fearful patients cost $918/year more to treat ($1,181 vs $263, p < 0.001). Fearful patients also started care about 2.2 years later on average.
| Cost category | Fearful | Non-fearful | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restorative | $573 | $32 | +$541 |
| Previous visits (other clinics) | $94 | $7 | +$87 |
| Pulp therapy | $66 | $7 | +$59 |
| Surgical & extraction | $56 | $7 | +$49 |
| Drugs (antibiotic + analgesic) | $39 | $0 | +$39 |
| Prevention | $53 | $16 | +$37 |
| Initial exam | $189 | $183 | +$6 |
| Total | $1,181 | $263 | +$918 |
How the calculator works
monthly cost = extra-support patients × ($918 ÷ 12)potential value = monthly cost × 40%net gain = max(0, potential value − $99)
Important: the clinical trial measured anxiety and pain — not financial savings. The 40% "potential value" figure is a directional calculator scenario, built by using the trial's pain reduction as a stand-in for how much of the $918/year cost might be avoided. It is not a measured financial result, and actual savings will vary by practice, fee schedule and payer mix. Net gain is floored at $0.
Limitations
The efficacy trial and cost pilot are two separate studies, not one combined study — the $/month figure bridges them. Results come from one pediatric-focused site and may not generalize to every practice; your own patient mix, fees and payer terms will change the real numbers.
Try Paperplane in your practice
$99/month, no upfront cost·Hardware and warranty included·Cancel anytime
Includes software and support — clinic-ready and compatible with standard disinfecting wipes like CaviWipes.
30-day risk-free trial — full refund if you return the kit within 30 days of delivery.