Sales Training 2014 - Dentistry

62 ILLUSTRATED PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Baseline anxiety

Past experiences

School and peers

Sociocultural and developmental factors

Growth and development

Figure 11.1  Sociocultural and developmental factors.

Efficient parenting helps children to have a posi- tive attitude towards new situations. Such children are confident and have less baseline anxiety. The baseline anxiety is high in overprotected or overin- dulged children. Children born to women with an increased maternal age or nurtured by a single par- ent can also have high baseline anxiety. These chil- dren are under severe tension and do not have a positive attitude towards treatment. 2. Past medical or dental experience: Sometimes, a child may have encountered an unpleasant medical or dental treatment in the past. Such a child is nega- tive towards receiving any dental treatment. Simi- larly, a painless medical/dental experience makes the child positive of receiving treatment. 3. School environment and peer influences: Children are active, curious and open to views and suggestions. Association with peers in the school environment gives them bountiful sociocultural learning. The peers may narrate their experiences

during medical or dental treatment or express their prejudice towards the situation. This may invoke fear for doctors and make the child frightened at the start of the appointment. A child benefited by school dental health programmes will have a positive approach towards dental treatment. The importance of teeth and oral hygiene might have been taught to the child. 4. Growth and development pattern: Physical growth and the pattern of development are associated with each other. The systemic and local (oral) growth should be maturing in a coherent manner for a child to have a positive behaviour pattern. Some derange- ment in development can leave a negative attitude in the child’s mind. Systemic growth disturbance may lead to retarded physical growth or any illness. Local growth disturbance may cause conditions such as cleft lip and palate. Table 11.3 lists the constituents of growth and associated derangements in the develop- ment pattern.

Table 11.3  Growth Pattern and Associated Derangements

Constituent

Representing Feature

Associated Derangement

Biologic Cognitive

Motor maturation

Delayed milestones Mental retardation

Intellect

Social

Interpersonal relations

Attention deficit, hyperactivity

Perpetual Emotional

Sensory function

Blindness, hearing impairment, speech abnormalities

Inner psyche

Child abuse

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