About Behavior Management in Pediatric Dentistry

All dentists are taught to deal with patient's fear, from adults to children. However, there are specific methods taught to dental students to help calm the nerves of the pediatric patients so that they can receive the dental work that they need in a calm and relaxing environment.

Show & Tell

A great way to help children feel more comfortable in the dental chair is to let them know what to expect in a way they will understand. Show them the instruments you will be using, and let them hear the sounds that these instruments are going to make so that they know what to expect. Use vocabulary that they will understand when explaining the dental techniques you will be using.

Tone of Voice

Children pick up on the tone in our voices. For this reason it is very important for a dentist to use a calm and happy tone of voice so that children are at ease with the dentist that is going to be performing their dental work. If you use a positive and upbeat tone, children will respond accordingly.

Distractions

The use of distractions is a great way to modify the behavior of children at the dentist. Installing TVs that can be viewed from a reclined position with age appropriate kids' shows is a great way to keep their mind off of the dental work that they need. You can also paint murals on the ceiling in id friendly pictures, or have the dental receptionist or parent perform a puppet show during the dental work to keep their mind on the distraction instead of the work being performed on their teeth.

Involve Parents

It is a great idea to allow parents in the back while you are performing work on their child. Parents can offer both a comfort and distraction from the dental work. There is no comfort for a small child like mom or dad, so be sure to enlist the help of parents when trying to modify the behavior of their children during a dental exam.