62
ILLUSTRATED PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
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.
Growth and
development
Past experiences
Baseline anxiety
School and peers
Sociocultural and
developmental
factors
Figure 11.1
Sociocultural and developmental factors.
Table 11.3
Growth Pattern and Associated Derangements
Constituent
Representing Feature
Associated Derangement
Biologic
Motor maturation
Delayed milestones
Cognitive
Intellect
Mental retardation
Social
Interpersonal relations
Attention deficit, hyperactivity
Perpetual
Sensory function
Blindness, hearing impairment, speech abnormalities
Emotional
Inner psyche
Child abuse
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