Sales Training 2014 - Dentistry

88 ILLUSTRATED PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

HIGHLY ANXIOUS CHILD

Features: • Child is not relaxed on a reclined dental chair • Cries with breath-catching sobs • Keeps hands held together • Keeps feet crossed and toes flexed • Observes the dentist keenly • Eyes follow the dentist’s/ dental assistant’s hands in the anxiety of ‘what’s next’ • If not attended well, the child may display obstinate behaviour

Establish a relationship with

Multisensory Communication

adequate reassurance to develop a sense of trust in the child

Behaviour Shaping Tell-show-do, modelling and

contingency management have to be strategically and precisely applied to reassure and allay anxiety

Negative behaviour

Positive behaviour

The behaviour is reinforced and maintained with contingency management

Behaviour Retraining

Positive behaviour

Voice Control only Aversive conditioning should be avoided if the child is still highly anxious

Behaviour Shaping is attempted again

Negative behaviour

Treatment under conscious sedation to obtain mood alteration

Figure 14.2  Management of a highly anxious child.

Chapter 14.indd 88

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