Dental Anxiety In Children Flashcards
What does paediatric dentistry include?
- Behavioural management
- Restorative care
- Preventative dentistry
- Management of developing dentition
- Special needs patients
- Treating patients with dentoalveolar trauma
- Paediatric oral pathology
What is our overall philosophy in paediatric dentistry?
- We want to treat the disease
- We want to prevent further disease
- We need to carry out the treatment in the most acceptable way to the child
What are the effects of dental anxiety in children?
They have
- Increased levels of carious and extracted teeth
- Increased episodes of dental pain
- Difficulty in accepting dental treatment
- Disturbed sleep
- Reduced oral intake due to trouble in eating
- Delayed growth and development
- Poor performance in school
- May be bullied which can affect their social development
- Physiological symptoms and behavioural changes
What are the effects of dental anxiety in adults?
- Irregular dental attendance
- Persistent pain
- Prolonged self mediation
- Disturbance of sleeping and eating habits
- Effects in performance at work
- Effects in social interactions and personal relationships
- Increased anxiety in their children
- High caries expletive in their children
What are the aims in paediatric dentistry?
- Treat the disease
- Maintain patients confidence
- Want to help the patient become more confident
What is behavioural management?
A continuum of interaction with a child/ parent towards communication and education
What are the 3 broad categories we split behavioural management into?
- Psychology
- Sedation
- General anaesthesia
What factors might influence dental anxiety outside the dental setting?
- Media
- Parents
- Fear of the unknown
- Fear of the Needle and drill
- Previous medical or dental experience
- Peer pressure
What factors might influence dental anxiety within the dental setting?
- The environment eg the appearance, smell and sounds
- The dentists appearance
- Dentists manners
- Presence of parent
What do studies suggesting about the effectiveness of parents being present during a child’s appointment?
There’s no conclusive evidence to suggest that parental presence influences behaviour
What are the advantages of having a parent present during dental appointment?
Possibility for better behaviour
Less distractions
What are spme of the disadvantages of not having a parent present during dental appointment?
Increased anxiety levels of patient
Legal ethical issues
Increased distraction for child
Parent isn’t being educated
What do we as the dentist need to do to reduce patients anxiety?
- Greet the child by name
- Give the child clear instructions
- Questions how they are feeling
- Revise then with feedback about their behaviour ( positive reinforcement)
- Physical contact (nurse can hold hand)
- Eye contact
What things should we avoid doing that can INCREASE anxiety levels?
- Reassurance as in telling them they won’t feel anything as this is untrue
- Criticism
- Ridicule
- Being patronising
- Non dental chat with nurses + other staff
What is behaviour shaping?
- We tell show do
- Praise the desired behaviour
- Ignore / discourage the undesired behaviour
- Only move on with treatment when desired behaviour is exhibited
