Clinical Insights: From Anxiety to Smiles
The power of innovative dental technology in creating positive experiences.
Making dental visits a positive experience for children can lay the foundation for a lifetime of good oral hygiene habits and positive dental health outcomes. Each child has a unique background that impacts his or her experience during a dental visit.
Reducing dental fear is essential for children and adults, as dental fear can lead to avoiding necessary dental care, worsening oral health, and feelings of guilt, shame, and inferiority. It perpetuates the cycle of fear, making it harder to seek treatment.1 As a clinician, you aim to deliver high-quality oral healthcare while minimizing stress levels. One way to achieve this is by incorporating innovative dental technology.
The Pac-Dent ProMate CL is a game-changer in addressing one of the leading causes of dental anxiety: the “drilling” sound produced by the dental handpiece.2 Its design resembles an electronic toothbrush, which many are familiar with, and the sound is very quiet, making it less threatening to the patient. It is cordless, allowing it to be portable and more flexible during procedures. This feature is helpful for children who may be restless or have a disability that makes it challenging to be in a dental chair.
Pac-Dent’s ProMate CL has received rave reviews for making prophy procedures more manageable and comfortable for patients and practitioners alike. But Pac-Dent doesn’t stop there: the company also offers a range of prophy angles designed to enhance the ProMate CL’s performance. Their FUNimals and Oscillating AntiSplatr Mini prophy angles are particularly noteworthy for their access, visibility, and splatter control.
The FUNimals Pedo angles are perfect for treating the littlest teeth in the mouth. With a compact head and slim neck, these angles allow excellent access and visibility. The whimsical characters add a playful touch to the procedure, distracting the patient and making the experience more enjoyable.
The design of the Oscillating AntiSplatr Mini prophy angles can decrease the dependence on the saliva ejector, which may be loud and intimidating for some patients, particularly children. The spiral blades provide optimum paste retention, which means less paste splatter and reduced need for suction. This makes the procedure more comfortable for the patient and saves the practitioner time and effort.
Long waits can also cause dental anxiety.2 To help streamline the process and reduce stress levels, dental professionals have turned to ProPaste One, a preassembled disposable prophy ring and paste combo that can help improve procedure setup and clinical efficiency. With this product, practitioners can avoid the common problem of fumbling with prophy paste on the tray or dropping it during a procedure. The ergonomic ring design provides a comfortable and secure fit, allowing quick and easy access from paste to prophy angle to patient.
Keeping the right supplies and equipment on hand can create a positive experience for children during dental visits. Innovations in dental technology — such as Pac-Dent’s ProMate CL, FUNimals collection, Oscillating AntiSplatr Mini, and ProPaste One — can streamline procedures, reduce stress levels, and make the experience more enjoyable. Dental professionals can provide top-quality care while creating a positive and memorable patient experience.
Pac-Dent
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References
- Beaton L, Freeman R, Humphris G. Why are people afraid of the dentist? Observations and explanations. Med Princ Pract. 2014;23(4):295–301.
- Aldossary M, Aleissa M, Alqarni A, et al. Dental anxiety in children: a review of the contributing factors. Available at: researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed Aldossary/publication/�_Dental_Anxiety_in_Children_A_Review_of_the_Contributing_Factors/links/䁳acf52ea0f7e9b18965b166c/Dental-Anxiety-in-Children-A-Review-of-the-Contributing-Factors.pdf. Accessed May 23, 2023.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. June 2023; 21(6):20.
