Help Your Child Overcome Their Fear of the Dentist

Millions of children too scared to go to the dentist could beat their fears through a new self-help guide, scientists claim. 

 

More than a third of youngsters experience fear of visiting the dentist which can prevent them from having regular check-ups.

 

But after using the new guide, 60 per cent of children felt a lot less worried about going to have their teeth checked, new research found.

 

Experts say the tool could also mean less children needing to go to hospital for emergencies by helping them overcome their fear of treatment.   

 

Led by academics at Sheffield University, the guide uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques to reduce children's anxiety about going to the dentist.

 

It is available in a paper version or online and includes a range of proven techniques to ease worry.

 

Children have the ability to write a message to their dentist, squeeze a stress ball and choose their own small reward for making the visit.  

 

Dr Zoe Marshman, of Sheffield University's School of Clinical Dentistry, said: 'Children who are scared of the dentist often end up with poor dental health and stay scared of the dentist for the rest of their lives.

 

'At the moment, most of these children end up having sedation or being given a general anaesthetic for their dental treatment. 

 

'This can be a traumatic experience for children and their parents as well as incurring high costs for the NHS.

 

'The guide was designed with children to give them choice and control to challenge commonly held unhelpful thoughts and provide information on dental procedures.'

 

Researchers worked with 48 children and their families at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a community dental clinic in Derbyshire. 

 

They plan to further trial the guide to determine the cost-effectiveness compared to normal treatments. 

 

The study was published in the international journal JDR Clinical and Translational Research.