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Updated: Jul 30, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Dentist's reassuring touch: effects on children's behavior
P E Greenbaum1, M A Lumley, C Turner
1Department of Child and Family Studies/Department of Psychology, University of South Florida.
Pediatric Dentistry
|January 1, 1993
Summary
A reassuring touch during pediatric dental exams reduced anxiety and fidgeting in older children (7-10 years). This simple intervention improved behavior and patient experience in the dental setting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Psychology
- Health Care Interventions
Background:
- Physical contact by healthcare providers can alleviate patient fear and avoidance.
- The impact of reassuring touch on children's anxiety during dental procedures is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if reassuring touch reduces anxiety and improves behavior in children during routine dental examinations.
- To determine the effectiveness of touch as an intervention in pediatric dental care.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-eight children (3.5-10 years) were randomized into touch and no-touch groups.
- The touch group received gentle pats on the arm/shoulder with verbal reassurance.
- The control group received only verbal reassurance during the dental examination.
Main Results:
- Children aged 7-10 in the touch group showed significantly less fidgeting behavior (P < 0.05).
- No significant difference in fidgeting was observed in younger children (3.5-7 years).
- Touched children reported trends toward greater pleasure (P < 0.06) and less dominance (P < 0.10).
Conclusions:
- Reassuring touch can be an effective strategy to improve behavior in older children during dental visits.
- The benefits of touch may be age-dependent, with older children benefiting more.
- Touch interventions warrant further investigation for enhancing pediatric dental patient care.
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