As we enter Children’s Dental Health Month

As we enter Children’s Dental Health Month this February, it is important to remember how essential pediatric dentistry and prevention are for oral health. Studies show 30%-40% of pediatric dental patients face fear and/or anxiety leading up to a visit. According to 2022 research published in the Dental Research Journal, this fear and anxiety negatively impacts children’s oral health.

The study aims to find a psychological technique that can reduce children’s fear and anxiety during dental treatment and change their attitude. The research concludes that psychological techniques, such as audio-video distraction, dental apps and hypnosis, are effective in reducing fear and anxiety, but some newer techniques performed better for invasive procedures.