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Georgia Houston’s research project is one most people would love to see widely
implemented. This master’s student in environmental design has brought industrial
design to the dentist’s office by completing research exploring how to reduce
children’s anxiety when visiting the dentist.
“Approximately 22 percent of children suffer from anxiety related to dental visits,” says
Houston. “The impact of this can be far reaching as anxiety can affect a child’s
willingness to visit the dentist and practise good oral care. I wanted to change that
because this can subsequently affect their mental, as well as physical health.”
Houston explored many facets of the anxiety, fear and pain that children may feel. From
this research, she developed four key areas where design could help reduce children’s
negative emotions: empowerment, distraction, relaxation and aesthetics. Her
recommendations provide ideas for pediatric dentists to improve a child’s experience
from the time the parent makes the appointment, to when the child leaves the office.
Using educational kinesiology, aromatherapy, a questionnaire for parents to identify
anxiety and offer solutions before a child arrives, as well as softening the severe
appearance of dental instruments – are just a few of the robust list of suggestions.
Houston, who also has a fine arts degree in sculpture, took her primary recommendation
through to development by creating a digital media system and handheld controller that
allows children to be distracted, relaxed and in more control while in the dental chair.
Most importantly, however, it has an alarm feature to alert the dentist if the child is
experiencing any distress.
“Being able to observe users in pediatric dental offices and then implement the
research into tangible product solutions shows the range of what I can actually do – to
myself and to employers. It confirms my belief that the interdisciplinary nature of
industrial design can help solve a wide range of everyday problems.
“It was amazing to spend the time to understand an issue in a deep and holistic way –
and then develop recommendations that could actually change children’s experience at
the dentist,” says Houston. “Doing my own research and working through the process
of this project has taught me invaluable techniques that will enhance the design
solutions I provide for people after I graduate.”
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