Hannah Walsh discusses a study linking overbearing ‘helicopter parenting’ to children’s behaviour in the dental chair and explains why the issue may be more complex than it first appears.
A Dutch cross-sectional study recently claimed that ‘helicopter parenting’ – or overprotectiveness – can lead to a risk of tooth decay in children. It explored how overprotective parenting styles may relate to children’s behaviour during dental treatment and their toothbrushing habits.
The study reports an association between higher levels of overprotective parenting and more disruptive child behaviour during dental treatment. Children whose caregivers scored higher on measures of overprotection were more likely to display uncooperative behaviours, such as anxiety, resistance, or distress, when undergoing dental procedures. In contrast, no significant association was identified between overprotective parenting and children’s toothbrushing frequency or the likelihood of skipping toothbrushing.
Can the study be trusted?
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