Playground spaces can transform children's experience at the dental office because the specific activities conducted in such a place can contribute to a significant reduction in the level of anxiety they may face.
Learn about the causes of dentophobia (fear of the dentist) and how a play area for little patients should be arranged, taking into account the relatively small surface area, the budget available for the arrangement, and other factors just as important for the success of the project.
Explaining dental anxiety
Anxiety about dental consultation is a common problem among children and can have a significant impact on their oral health and overall well-being. On the day of the appointment, or even earlier, children may experience intense states of restlessness, caused by various factors: negative experiences, fear of pain, or fear of the unknown.
Physical symptoms can include an increased heart rate, sweating, tremors, nausea, or dizziness. Emotionally, the most obvious signs of fear of the dentist include exacerbated fear and agitation.
Symptoms can easily be observed in the waiting room or on the dental chair. Factors that intensify the symptoms of this type of fear are the specific smell in the office or the noise made by medical instruments.
The impact of dental anxiety on children can be significant. In the long term, it can lead to avoiding appointments with the dentist, which results in inadequate dental care, pain that can no longer be combated with medication, and other oral health problems that can worsen.
How to design a pediatric dental office
Properly designing a pediatric dental office is essential to ensure a positive experience. Creating a friendly environment can significantly reduce the anxiety of young children regarding this type of consultation.
The decor of the office should be colorful, attractive, and create a pleasant atmosphere. Bright colors of the furniture, wall drawings, sensory wall panels, toys, or books for children can contribute to creating a much more welcoming environment.
Educational materials for children, such as books or posters that explain dental procedures in a language that children can understand, can also be very useful. When this information is provided in this way, children will know exactly what will happen during their visit to the dentist and why oral hygiene is important.
The staff of a pediatric dentistry office should be familiar with and practice effective relational techniques for managing the anxiety of the little ones when they are in the consultation chair: the ability to use simple and positive language or the ability to make the child feel safe.
Play areas and dental anxiety prevention
Setting up a play area in the dental office can significantly reduce anxiety in children. Distracting them through play, before or even after a consultation, can help them relax and associate the space with a range of positive emotions, which is beneficial for managing the states they face.
Play areas offer benefits not just psychologically, but also physically. Play and movement are essential for releasing a certain amount of endorphins, also known as "happiness hormones."
Through physical effort, the mood of children can improve before the consultation, thus reducing stress and anxiety levels. Additionally, in a play area, the child has the opportunity to exercise autonomy and control, which can alleviate the unease associated with the lack of control on the dental chair.
Since the available space in a dental office is limited, solutions for setting up a play area must be adapted to this important criterion. It must also ensure safety in use, be simple to operate, and allow shifting attention to the dynamics of the game, through colors, images, sounds, or through the stories and challenges that the games and other play equipment offer.
Waterboyz recommendation for dental offices: Knowla Box
The Knowla Box for wall and floor is an interactive multimedia device that can be used in the play areas of pediatric dental offices. This high-tech device allows for the projection of bright images in a large format, both vertically and horizontally, with which children can interact in real-time.
Children waiting to start their medical consultation can interact in several ways with the images projected by the Knowla Box for wall and floor: using balls, writing, with a keyboard or a mouse. Soon, a new feature will allow control through body movement, making the experience much more interesting.
Waterboyz is the sole distributor of Knowla Box in Romania. Along with the actual equipment, the order includes 40 balls, 2 Epson pens with interchangeable tips, a wireless keyboard with touchpad, a ball basket, an Epson projector with remote control, and other accessories for activities conducted with this interactive solution, in the play area set up in the dental office.
Knowla box comes pre-set with the FREE Planet Fruu Package, a universal starter package that contains 120 activities. other packages are available for a fee. Contact Waterboyz Romania specialists to learn more about this device!
In conclusion, creating a play area in the dental office can have a significant impact on managing stress and anxiety levels in children. By creating a friendly and entertaining environment, children's fear of the consultation chair can be significantly reduced. Discover the packages you can purchase for Knowla Box, then order the most suitable solutions for a dental office or clinic.