ABORDAGEM HUMANIZADA EM ODONTOPEDIATRIA: Breve revisão narrativa da literatura

Abstract

A humanized approach in pediatric dentistry is essential, particularly in addressing fear and anxiety surrounding children’s dental visits. This article discusses strategies to minimize these factors and their impact on children’s overall oral health. Children’s fear may stem from past trauma, while anxiety includes both mental and physical reactions. These emotions affect cooperation during treatment, often leading to inadequate home care and making dental visits challenging for the child. Various approaches—such as using music, conversation, and medication—can help control anxiety; for more extreme cases, techniques like conscious sedation and hypnosis are alternatives. Another key point is the importance of parental education and involvement in promoting oral health from early childhood, encouraging hygiene habits that prevent cavities and other diseases that can compromise both oral and overall health due to poor hygiene. The main goal of this article is to highlight the importance of humanized care for children, with the pediatric dentist playing a vital role in these early stages of life. This research was conducted through a qualitative literature review in databases such as SciELO, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Literature suggests that children who receive compassionate care are more likely to maintain a positive relationship with dental visits into adulthood. In summary, humanized care in pediatric dentistry facilitates the work of professionals and positively impacts the emotional development of young patients.