A study of YouTube videos that show scenes of children and teens crying is revealing new insights into their fear of going to the dentist (Journal of Medical Internet Research, April 3, 2013).
Researchers from China, Malayasia, and the University of Western Australia tapped into the social media video platform expecting to record spontaneous personal reactions, which could add to knowledge about dental fear and anxiety, according to a university press release.
They found that fear of the dentist has various manifestations, impacts, and origins, some of which only became apparent when using the Internet and social media. The researchers found 182 videos concerning people's views or experiences of dental fear and anxiety, including 27 videos involving 32 children or adolescents (17 males and 15 females), and three videos concerning both children/adolescents and adults.
The researchers found that videos often showed immediate physical reactions such as crying piteously, screaming forcefully, and shivering uncontrollably. Third molar extractions were a "nightmare" to some adolescents after hearing fearful stories from friends.
One person posted, "I absolutely hated the dentist."
Some children's fear was caused by careless words from parents. The mother of one girl attributed her daughter's uncooperative behavior to the father who had teased the girl that the dentist would pull her teeth, the researchers noted.
Dental fear and anxiety in children is known to cause uncooperative behavior during dental visits, treatment delays, sleep disorders, and psychological issues that can affect daily life. The study findings could help parents and pediatric patients regulate their emotions while they face other challenges in life, the authors concluded.
