Interpersonal Care in Dentistry: Alleviating Dental Anxiety in Children

Have you ever wondered why some kids are terrified and anxious about going to the dentist while others seem just fine, perhaps even eager, to sit in the chair? What if how we interact with them is the key to successful treatment other than technical skills with tools and conquering that fear? The effective relationship between a dentist and their patient heavily affects their experience on their dental care journey, making it a crucial part of dental care delivery. Interpersonal care in dentistry involves developing strong, empathetic relationships between dentists and their patients. This is especially important when it comes to children, who often feel anxious about dental treatments. However, developing this connection requires effective communication, empathy, and patient-centred support. The ability to provide compassionate, patient-centred care is essential for children, as it helps alleviate their fears and fosters a positive dental experience. In my experience as a dental patient, I've come to realise that effective interpersonal care is as essential as technical expertise in ensuring a positive patient outcome. This article delves into the impact of good interpersonal care in clinical dentistry, understanding dental fear in children, how proper interpersonal care can alleviate dental anxiety, and the impact and long-term benefits of interpersonal care.

The Role of Interpersonal Care in Dentistry

The foundation of an effective dental-patient relationship is interpersonal care, which in dentistry, refers to how dentists interact with their patients, attending to their emotional and physical needs while fostering trust via clear communication. In dentistry, providing interpersonal care requires more than just technical proficiency. It concerns how dentists interact, listen, and relate to their patients. Dental professionals can create an atmosphere where patients feel valued and secure by maintaining open communication, demonstrating empathy, and establishing trust.

I have experienced a difference in my dental appointments due to the difference in practising interpersonal care. Even just adding a “Hello, my name is…” and a “What should I call you?” as an introduction, created a significant development in my connection and trust for my new dentist, providing me with a more pleasant experience during that appointment, especially since it was the first time I had gone to one without one of my guardians.

Being comfortable, having trust and adequate communication with your dentist increases the likelihood of successful dental treatment, as lack of trust can manifest as dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is a broad condition when a person feels a certain amount of uneasiness and is ready for something bad to happen, it can affect people of all ages but appears to develop mostly in childhood and adolescence. Dental anxiety creates behaviours that hinder dental healing, causing patients not to receive appropriate dental care. Unfortunately, dental anxiety in children has a significantly negative impact on their health. Children who experience dental anxiety may hinder or avoid dental treatments, delaying cleanings and checkups as adults, which can result in oral health problems that require more extensive treatment later on. This neglect of oral health can cause detrimental impacts, one of which are physical such as pain or discomfort and risk of infection, and psychological such as a decrease in self-esteem as well as increasing stress and anxiety from associated pain or discomfort.

Understanding Dental Fear in Children

Studies show that around 20% of children experience severe dental anxiety, this fear of dentists manifests in behaviours like crying, aggressive behaviour, withdrawal from treatment, severe discomfort, and sometimes fainting. These behaviours come from a lack of trust and connection with their dentists, however, it might not just be the only factor.

There is no single explanation for the development of dental anxiety and some children are afraid of the dentist for reasons that may not be noticeable, however, it is important to delve into these reasons to be able to help alleviate this fear as a method of prevention:

1. Psychological Factors

The most common fears in children boil down to a fear of the unknown and a fear of pain. Dental anxiety in children can stem from fear of pain during dental procedures, such as needles and drills, which are often heightened by vivid imagination or lack of understanding. Children unfamiliar with dental procedures may also feel anxious about the unknown aspects and not know what to expect. Past traumas, such as painful or uncomfortable dental experiences, can also contribute to heightened fear and anxiety about future visits. These factors can contribute to a child's overall fear of dental experience.

2. Environmental Factors

One of the most common and obvious factors that is easily overlooked is children learning from their social environment. Children frequently adopt bad attitudes about dental visits, which can be influenced by their parents, siblings, or social circle, who may display negative emotions and opinions towards dental visits. Additionally, children can also be influenced by the media they consume. Media such as TV shows, movies, and books can portray dental visits in an inaccurate, exaggerated and frightening way, further contributing to a child’s fear and misunderstanding of dental care.

3. Communication and Misinformation

Another factor to dental anxiety in children is due to the lack of communication about dental visits, such as why they are necessary and what would happen during it. Without understanding what to expect during a dental visit as well as the unfamiliar environment and sensations they encounter and experience, children will likely foster apprehension that can develop into anxiety or fear. Also, children who receive misinformation about dental visits from their peers may develop fear and anxiety or contribute to it.

4. Sensory Sensitivity

It may not be talked about often, but apart from the eyes, ears, and private area, people are not accustomed to letting others touch and handle their mouths. In contrast, dentistry touches the sensory centre in a very personal way. So dental care may be a very overwhelming experience for children, especially for the first time. Furthermore, the unfamiliar sounds, smells, and sensations in a dentist's office can also be overwhelming, especially for children with high sensory sensitivity.

Child being uncomfortable when checked by the dentist | https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/cute-little-girl-sitting-dentist-s-office_4063988.htm#fromView=image_search_similar&page=1&position=1&uuid=0d4df69b-3d0c-4e07-bac3-dfc62b538978

How Interpersonal Care Can Alleviate Dental Fear in Children

Now that we have a deeper understanding of dental fear in children, the role of interpersonal care – clear communication, empathy, and trust building – is even more crucial in alleviating these fears. Dentists may help kids feel more in control, less nervous, and eventually more inclined to return for more appointments by fostering a relaxed and reassuring environment.

Clear Communication and Rapport

For a dentist and patient to have a positive working relationship and provide effective clinical care, clear communication is essential. Having clear communication about the rundown of a dental visit, what they should expect, and dental procedures that may be performed in a way that children can understand helps to reduce their fear of the unknown. Using simple language and limiting dental jargon, showing them the tools, and walking them through the procedure can make children feel more in control. Furthermore, getting to know the patient and creating a rapport helps to add that personal touch to each patient’s visit, fostering a bond of trust.

Empathy and Reassurance

Empathy is a crucial emotional skill that plays a vital role in fostering healthy relationships and emotional development, especially for children. Empathy entails recognising and understanding the feelings of others and responding with care, concern, and support. With a child who is afraid, anxious, or nervous, responding with empathy communicates that their feelings are valid and important. Acknowledging their feelings without minimising or ignoring them lets them realise that their emotional experiences are understood and accepted. A simple phrase like 'I know you’re nervous, but I’m here to help' goes a long way in alleviating fear and anxiety, helping reassure children and give them a sense of security.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcements in dentistry for children reward behaviours such as bravery and cooperation to help encourage the behaviour, and is another key aspect of interpersonal care, especially when trying to reduce the fear of dentists in children. Praising a child for their bravery and cooperation during a dental visit reinforces positive behaviour and helps children associate dental visits with positive outcomes. For instance, saying "You did a fantastic job today, and thank you for being so brave!" after a procedure helps children feel good about their visits and helps reduce anxiety for future appointments. Giving out small physical rewards like stickers can also help motivate children to view the dental experience more positively.

Positive Experiences and Building Trust

Building trust over time and encouraging children to see the dentist fearlessly can be made made possible by consistent, positive experiences. The experiences that children have during their first dental visits have a big impact on how they feel about oral health care throughout their life. When dentists provide consistent, supportive, and reassuring care, it helps create a positive cycle in which children can feel comfortable, confident, and eager to return.

Young boy sharing a high-five with his dentist | https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/dentist-cleaning-child-s-teeth_20823094.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=9&uuid=caca890c-542e-46c2-9760-eb5375cbf0c0

Practical Tips for Dental Professionals

Many innovative approaches and therapies have been developed to help children alleviate their fear of going to the dentist. Using advancements in psychology, these strategies aim to make dental visits more comfortable and less daunting for young patients. Some practical tips for dental professionals are as follows:

Creating a Positive First Experience

It is well-known that first impressions matter when you meet someone new, so it’s no surprise that creating a positive experience for a child’s first early dental visits is an effective strategy to help alleviate dental anxiety and fear. Greeting and speaking in a friendly manner as well as decorating the dental office in bright colours and fun decor are one of the ways that can create a welcoming environment that doesn’t feel intimidating towards children and help them feel comfortable. The first dental visit should also be relaxed, without any complex procedures, so that children can associate dental visits with a more positive experience and let them acclimatise to the environment of dental care and visits.

Distraction Techniques

Another effective interpersonal care strategy for reducing dental anxiety is distraction techniques, which aim to reduce any sense of discomfort from anxiety, sounds and sensations during procedures. Methods such as engaging in conversations, offering to let them hold a toy, or providing entertainment such as cartoons or music take the focus off of the procedure and can make the experience much less stressful for the child.

Involving Parents or Guardians

Parental or caregiver participation is important to children’s medical and interpersonal care, as children often feel safer and more secure around a familiar and trusted person. Allowing a parent, caregiver, or guardian in the room with the child during the appointment can give significant support and reduce the child’s anxiety. They can offer comfort and reassurance while the dental professionals provide care; this collaboration can help the child feel supported during their visit.

Conclusion

In conclusion, interpersonal care is vital in dentistry, especially pediatric dentistry where they work with children, as it directly impacts how children experience and respond to dental care. Children are often anxious about the unfamiliar environment and sensations associated with dental care, so children who have negative experiences with dental care will likely carry that negative perception throughout their lives, risking dental neglect and possible further damage due to avoiding appointments and going only when their dental problem becomes uncomfortable or painful to ignore. By focusing on interpersonal care – building trust, clear communication, offering emotional support, creating a reassuring environment, and being patient-centred – dental professionals can help alleviate these fears and make dental visits more comfortable.

In my opinion, interpersonal care should never be undervalued in dentistry, even while technical proficiency is essential. Dentists’ interactions with young patients can have a big influence on how they view dental care years later. So building trust, demonstrating empathy, and utilising clear communication can turn a potentially terrifying experience into one that promotes long-term oral health.

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