Revamping Paediatric Dentistry with Multisensory Snoezelen® Dental Environment: A Narrative Review

Dental fear or anxiety is the main cause of aversion to dental treatments in paediatric dental practice. The Snoezelen® room, or multisensory environment, is a novel non-pharmacological approach to sensitising children to dental settings. It facilitates engagement of all the senses, especially for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities, helping them to familiarise themselves with dental environments through visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory stimuli. Snoezelen® multisensory therapy is an ideally equipped space that combines all human senses through captivating music, vibrations, aromas, tactile sensations, and well-lit surroundings. Research suggests that Snoezelen® can alleviate anxiety and fear in children, enhance their mood, promote relaxation, and improve their cooperation with dentists. However, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach; therefore, it needs to be customised according to individual patient preferences. This review discusses the concept, implementation, and benefits of the Snoezelen® room in paediatric dentistry.