3. Working with Individual Needs

Question 1

Explain looking at the whole picture with individual needs

Answer 1

• aware that human interaction is a small part of what’s happening
• each patient has unique indivudal differences
• impossible to know how to respond each time with rigid rules so careful reflection and respectful communication are key

Question 2

Challenges to patients assessing care

Answer 2

• cultural barriers
• survivors of sexual abuse and violence
• autism
• mental health issues
• dementia
• persistant pain

Question 3

How to reflect on patients with individual needs?

Answer 3

• is there a right way to treat a patient with specific needs?
• can dental team be expected to know what approach is right for patients?
• how do you want the team to respond to you?
• in what ways might people with specific needs want this?

Question 4

What features should be considered when enforcing regular tooth brushing in children?

Answer 4

• their age group
• what will motivate them, their confidence, opportunity and ability, how you want parents to be involved

Question 5

How to treat babies under 1?

Answer 5

• wary of strangers
• startled by loud or sudden noises
• highly attuned to facial expressions of caregivers
• may rely on comfort objects
• enjoy playing with objects
• will bring objects to mouth
• can be stressed if seperated from caregiver

Question 6

How to not scare babies?

Answer 6

• involve parent/carer
• signal safety/fun - with body language and voice

Question 7

How to treat children of around 3?

Answer 7

• children often develop new fears here as more capable of imagining and pretending
• illness may be seen as magical or punishment for breaking rules
• think rules are fixed and cannot be challenged
• can be strong willed - parents benefit from good advice from authority figure

Question 8

How to treat child around 5?

Answer 8

• good sense of past, present and future
• enjoy jokes/riddles
• start to understand more complex concepts like things that taste good are bad for teeth
• often eager to please

Question 9

How to treat children around 7?

Answer 9

• children enjoy learning how things work
• more likely to speak up for themselves
• may be ready to brush their own teeth

Question 10

How to treat children 8-9?

Answer 10

• increased planning
• easily embarassed or discouraged
• increased understanding that things aren’t always as they seem
• preference for unimodel explanations - e.g illness caused by germs, ill if germs are present

Question 11

How to treat children 10-11?

Answer 11

• increasingly self aware and self-conscious
• sensitive to critiscism
• highly influenced by peers
• more nuanced understanding of rules, may not comply if don’t agree with them

Question 12

How to treat children 12+?

Answer 12

• more independent
• responsible for own decisions
• sophisticated capacity for understanding
• hihgly influenced by peers
• want to be accepted and liked

Question 13

What to suggest to patients and carers?

Answer 13

• important to children’s oral health
• need to encourage good practice and visiting dentists
• support them regardless of own dental anxiety