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Role Play Scenario 13


A mother, Sally, has brought in her 5 year old child, Tom, for a routine appointment. Tom is afraid, and repeatedly attempts to run out of the treatment room.  Sally asks you if there’s anything you can do to calm Tom down.
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In this role play, you are the dentist and you will speak to Tom.
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​Excellent Student Approach
1.         Introduction
2.         Open Questions
3.         Develop Rapport
4.         Address the issues known
5.         Identify any additional issues
6.         Summary and plan going forward
 
1 - Greet Tom and introduce yourself to him again.
2 - Explain to him that you are a dentist, ask him if he has been to the dentist before, and if he finds them to be ‘scary’.
3 - Adapt your manner of speaking to ensure that Tom can understand you and be as kind and friendly as possible.
4 - Find out if Tom is specifically afraid of the dentist - or if this is comparatively normal behaviour for him. If it is specific to the dentist, find out if this fear can be lessened. Try to understand if he has been to dentists before and found them scary. Explain that you are here to help him and won’t do anything that his parents don’t think is a good idea. Explain that you will make sure he isn’t in any pain at any point, and that if he is brave you will be able to help him have healthy teeth. Explain that lots of people are ‘scared’ of the dentist sometimes, and that they all have to be brave too. 
5 – Discuss if there are any other fears that Tom has which you can assist with or if there are any other underlying issues/concerns relating to Tom’s fear of dentists.
6 – Check with Tom if he is more willing to stay for his appointment now, or any potential incentives (stickers etc) that may encourage Tom to do so. If not, explain that you will get his mother and you will all speak together about how best to proceed, including rearranging the appointment should this be required.