Avoid a dental drama; The sound of the dentist's drill sends a shiver through most parents, let alone kids. But a pioneering child-friendly approach could be the cure for their fears.

Byline: Fiona Duffy

A child's first trip to the dentist can be a fearful, tearful affair - but could it be be partly your fault?

The infamous "drill and fill" approach of the 1970s left many of today's parents associating the dentist with pain and distress.

And experts say they're subconsciously passing those feelings on to their children - if they bother to take them at all.

"As parents we instinctively protect children from danger," says dentist Mike Reece.

"Yet suddenly their child is expected to climb into an intimidating chair and let a masked, gloved, stranger, poke around in their mouth."

Mike, 55, and his wife Sara, 43, a nursery nurse have set up Smilescool - the first British dental practice just for children.

Children go to a bright classroom where they are gradually introduced to the hygienist, then dentist.

"By the time they eventually sit in the dentist's chair they feel safe and realise that, actually, it's no big deal," explains Sara.

Smilescool is aimed at pupils aged up to 11.

Even mums-to-be are encouraged to enrol.

"After all, a baby's teeth form while still in the womb," says Sara. .

Pupils gradually progress from learning brushing and flossing, to scientific experiments - like looking at their teeth under a microscope.

Pupils also get a two-minute egg timer for teeth brushing, a pen torch to see inside their mouth, and fun wall charts and stickers to record their progress on a daily basis.

Each week, they chew a disclosing tablet which shows dental plaque - then record the results.

"The beauty of this approach is that parents can see in an instant if their child is brushing effectively and making progress," says Mike, from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

"They don't have to wait five years until holes develop." It's the first practice of its kind in Britain - but already has more than 200 pupils.

Mike says: "It's also been proven that if children take care of their teeth in the early years there is an 89 per cent chance that they will still be free of decay at 15."

Chief executive of The British Dental Health Association Dr Nigel Carter says "Early dental care is vital.

"Research suggests that the later a child gets their first dental cavity, the better their lifetime oral health is likely to be.

"Dental phobia is a problem which affects older children and adults over time - once the initial fear has developed.

"By introducing children to a comfortable environment at a dental clinic it will help them settle into the important routine of lifelong, regular, dental check-ups.

"This is a highly innovative project that we are confident will help towards positive progress in children's oral health."

Mike and Sara are now hoping to introduce Smilescool nationally and even worldwide.

FOR MORE DETAILS LOG ON TO WWW.SMILESCOOL.CO.UK

What YOU can do

Ask friends and family for recommendations.

Use positive encouragement. Don't focus on the negatives.

Take children to the dentist as soon as possible to get them used to future visits.

Give them time and never force a child to do anything they are not ready for.

For help and information contact the Dental Health Foundation Ireland on [phone] or log on to www.dentalhealth.ie

His fear has gone

Fiona and husband Joe, took son Teddy, five, who is terrified of dentists, and daughter Amelie, two, to try Smilescool...

Until now trips to the dentist with Teddy haven't been a barrel of laughs.

As a baby he clamped his mouth shut. As a toddler he screamed so loudly we had to abandon the appointment.

And on the third occasion he fled from the dentist's room in terror and didn't stop until he reached the car park.

We've tried different surgeries, different dentists, asked other parents for recommendations, but every visit ends in tears - mine and his.

Smilescool was totally different... no clinical whiff, no whine of drill, and no miserable, palmed patients in the waiting and his sister, Amelie were led the centre for positive oral or Pod.

Bright displays decorated the walls. A dressing-up area and puppet theatre beckoned in one corner. A doll's house 'dental surgery' lay waiting to be played with plus exciting arts and crafts activities, jigsaws, stories, toy foods...

They didn't know where to start. Within seconds Teddy was wearing a red tabard and painting a giant model of his mouth - sticking polystyrene teeth into place.

Amelie meanwhile was happily making Play-Doh teeth.

After 20 minutes I watched in disbelief as Teddy happily opened his mouth and let the hygienist count his teeth.

He turned down the offer of seeing his own teeth magnified on screen - and plumped instead to examine mine. He took delight in poking around my mouth and telling me that I wasn't brushing properly at all.

He came away clutching his wall chart and stickers ready to record his progress at home.

'What did you think of it?' we asked later. His face lit up.

'Cool,' he beamed.

'When are we going again?'

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BRUSH UP YOUR SKILLS: Teddy and Amelie learn tooth care BRISTLE FASHION: Teddy and chum PICTURES: NEVILLE WILLIAMS