Case Conference: How would you deal with a fearful child? Case Resolution
Drs. Christine Chambers and Ross Anderson joined Dr. John O’Keefe to present ideas about how to deal with children who are anxious and fearful of dental treatment.
Dr. Christine Chambers is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology. Her research, based in the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research (IWK Health Centre), examines developmental, psychological, and social influences on children’s pain, with a focus on family factors in pediatric pain and pain measurement in children.
Dr. Ross Anderson is Division Head / Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, at Dalhousie University.
Conversation Highlights
Factors causing fear in children
- Previous negative experience which primes children for feeling anxious or nervous during a medical or dental procedure.
- Some children have a more anxious temperament even though there is no reason to be fearful, these children may spontaneously develop anxieties.
- Anxious parents may influence their children’s behaviour.
Strategies to deal with fearful children
- If the situation is not urgent, delay the treatment and work on building a trusting relationship with the child.
- Take few minutes to explain to the child what the procedure is about and diffuse the child’s fears.
- Distract children to draw their attention away from the fear of treatment.
- Give clear directives to the parent on how they could help you and help their child overcome their fear.
- Give the child something to look forward at the end of the dental appointment, such as the treat from the treasure chest and praises for the good child’s behaviour.
- Child psychology could be a successful alternative in alleviating children’s fears and anxieties.
Watch the Video Conversation
Additional Resources
- Guideline on Behavior Guidance for the Pediatric Dental Patient
- Autism Speaks Resource Page
- Autism Speaks Family Services Toolkit