Understanding Children's Dental Anxiety and Psychological Approaches to Its Reduction

Overview

Journal Int J Paediatr Dent

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2012 Jan 7

PMID 22221141

Citations 33

Authors

Jenny Porritt

Zoe Marshman

Helen D Rodd

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background: Dental anxiety is a common problem, which can affect people of all ages, but appears to develop mostly in childhood and adolescence. Childhood dental anxiety is not only distressing for the child and their family but is also associated with poor oral health outcomes and an increased reliance on costly specialist dental services.

Aim: This article will consider the prevalence, development, and implications of children's dental anxiety. It will also discuss the opportunities for and challenges of psychological approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy aimed at the reduction of dental anxiety in children.

Citing Articles

Your Teeth, You Are in Control: A Process Evaluation of the Implementation of a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention for Reducing Child Dental Anxiety.

Kettle J, Porritt J, Baker S, Rodd H, Cross E, Marshman Z Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2025; 53(2):224-234.

PMID: 39791199 PMC: 11892546. DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.13025.

Comparison of Conventional Syringe with Camouflaged Syringe and Vibration-assisted Syringe for Pain and Fear Perception during Local Anesthetic Administration in Children: A Split-mouth Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ahmad N, Jindal M, Agrawal N, Varshney P Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2025; 17(11):1241-1247.

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Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior toward Dental Trauma among Parents of Primary Schoolchildren Visiting College of Dentistry, Jizan.

Maganur P, Ahamed F, Alhulaili D, Zuhair R, Wasli H, Sowaidi E Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2024; 17(9):1030-1034.

PMID: 39664833 PMC: 11628691. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2936.

The evaluation of different information methods on behaviour and anxiety levels of children aged 6 to 9 years: a randomised controlled trial.

Ozsin Ozler C, Altun D, Turkyilmaz E, Uzamis Tekcicek M, Atac A, Ozmert E Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2024; 26(1):83-93.

PMID: 39557759 DOI: 10.1007/s40368-024-00963-x.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Customized Mucosal Vibrator in Alleviating Pain Perception Associated with Local Anesthesia Administration in Children Aged 6-10 Years.

Tatiya N, Singh C, Surana P, Ukey A, Gupta P, Blesson A Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2024; 17(4):404-409.

PMID: 39144178 PMC: 11320810. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2812.