Training dental teams to better support young children during visits
Implementing Evidence-based Behavioral Skills in Pediatric Oral Healthcare Providers
This project teaches dentists, hygienists, and assistants behavioral skills to help make dental visits calmer and more cooperative for preschool children and their parents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195697 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a parent's perspective, researchers will work with University of Florida and community dental clinics to train dental teams in proven behavior-management skills adapted for very young children. The first two years focus on planning, partnering with community providers, and developing the training, and the following five years will enroll clinics and families to deliver the workshop and collect results. The team will track how often providers use the skills, how well they learn them, and how that affects child cooperation, distress, pain, and family satisfaction during appointments. Outcomes will include provider acceptability and feasibility as well as child and caregiver experiences in real dental visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are parents or caregivers of children under age 6 who receive care at participating dental clinics and are willing to be seen by trained providers.
Not a fit: Children older than the targeted preschool age or families who do not attend participating clinics are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this training could make dental visits less stressful for preschoolers and improve family satisfaction and adherence to care.
How similar studies have performed: The training adapts Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, which has helped child behavior in other settings, but applying these techniques specifically in dental appointments is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcneil, Daniel W — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Mcneil, Daniel W
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.