Dentaltown May 2018 - 100

Parenting has changed tremendously over the past
several decades. Today, it's not uncommon for parents
to question each phase of the dental experience.
The new "expert" in the room includes what can be
found on the internet and in parents groups or blogs.
The parental obstacle
Parents, parental expectations and parenting styles have a tremendous impact on
the success of your treatment and execution.
Parenting has changed tremendously over
the past several decades. From the 1960s
to the 1970s, parents usually accepted
and respected professionals and generally
consented to treatment recommendations
based on the practitioner's experience. Today,
it's not uncommon for parents to question
each phase of the dental experience. The
new "expert" in the room includes what
can be found on the internet and in parents
groups or blogs.
Expectations have also shifted over time.
In the past, parents realistically expected
that you would provide dental treatment
in a compassionate manner and that there
may be some discomfort involved in the
process. Now, there are some that expect
that every visit to the dental office will be
an experience with entertaining, pain-free
treatment. While that is a goal, it's a tough
mark to obtain daily. Regarding parental
presence in the operatory, the expectation
today is that the parent or guardian will
remain with the patient through all phases
of treatment.
With the increasing cultural diversity in
the United States, another potential variable is
the expectations of the parents who are recent
immigrants and their dental experiences
before immigration. Acceptance of treatment
and behavior management techniques will
vary widely depending on culture and their
dental knowledge. Complicating that is the
potential interaction of communicating with
a parent and child through an interpreter.
The challenge is delivering care in a culturally
appropriate manner.
Parenting styles have also changed, from

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MAY 2018 // dentaltown.com

parents being the managers of their children
and behavior to, in some cases, children being
on essentially equal footing with their parents.
With this shift in style, the expectation
is that the dentist will assume the role of
"co-parent," requiring that the practitioner
balance the need to guide the child during
treatment while respecting parental wishes
and desires. Multigenerational families
can also complicate treatment in that the
guardian or primary caregiver may have
differing behavioral expectations from the
child's parent. Blended families or divorced
households present a similar challenge.
Another factor to consider is parent
behavior. Children's perceptions of a challenge such as dental treatment are strongly
influenced by their parents' reaction to
situations. Anxiety is a major challenge for
both adults and children. During a child's
restorative appointment, parents can have
anxiety based on their personal experiences
or the experiences of others. Children quickly
pick up on their parents' anxiety and the
mood in the room can switch quickly.
Parents can also influence the dentist's
ability to effectively communicate with their
child. Treating a child is a guided journey
with the dentist constantly communicating
each phase of treatment. The experience
begins when a child first enters the office
and continues until the appointment has
been completed.
W hen communicating, you need
to inform, set expectations and prepare
the child for the next task. The level of
communication is geared to the age or
developmental status of the child. For
younger children, child-friendly terms are
commonly used to explain sensations and
noises that the child is likely to experience
(e.g., "sleepy juice," "Mr. Bumpy"). Positive
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown May 2018
