Helping Children Cope with a Visit to the Dentist

2011

Keith Allen
[email protected]
402-559-5756

Despite the largely painless nature of pediatric dentistry today, one in four children becomes so distressed and/or disruptive as to require special management procedures. Given the nature of dental exams, it should come as no surprise that some children find a trip to the dentist a traumatic event. The most common triggers of fear for young children ages 2-5 include loss of emotional support, loud noises, separation from parents, exposure to strangers, novel stimuli, and masks. Now consider that during a typical visit to the dentist, a child must lie on his back, open his mouth, and allow an unfamiliar adult wearing a mask and gloves to insert multiple foreign instruments into his mouth; instruments that make unusual noises, create unfamiliar sensations, and sometimes inflict discomfort or even pain. Given these types of experiences common to many dental visits, it should prove no surprise that some children feel fearful, anxious, or become disruptive. Furthermore, the likelihood of disruptive problem behaviors correlates strongly with age. Younger, preschool-aged children pose more challenges than do school-aged children.

Book Chapter

Consumers/Families, Professionals, Students

N/A