Assessment of the effect of parental presence in dental operatory on the behavior of children aged 4-7 years

Abstract

Background: Child presents a unique challenge to accept a dental treatment, and such a challenge gets modified by the presence or the absence of a parent in the operatory. Many dentists have reportedly and controversially used parental separation anxiety as a tool to control behavior of an uncooperative child and also to deliver quality dental treatment in young children. But is the parental separation beneficial for dentist to gain child cooperation?

Aims and objectives: The objective is to evaluate the influence of parental presence or absence in the operating room on child's behavior during dental procedure on children of 4 years and above.

Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 30 children of 4-7 years of age group, 16 (4-6 years) preschoolers, and 14 (6-7 years) early schoolers. Two consecutive restorative procedures were carried out. On a first visit, parents were present and on a second visit, separation of parents was done. Behavior rating was done by commonly used Frankel's Behavior Rating Scale.

Results: Chi-square test was performed for the statistical analysis. There was no significant difference found in the child's behavior by the presence or absence of parents in the perception of dental treatment in the dental operatory. In contrast to that there was a significant increase in cooperative behavior of some children due to other factors influencing the behavior of the child with a Chi-square value = 35.296, P < 0.001.

Conclusion: Parents can be excluded from the dental operatory to eliminate many behavior-related problems during the course of treatment.

Keywords: Anxiety; behavior management; early schoolers; parental separation; preschoolers.