Download ENGLISH Dental Care for Children

Gaston Family Health Services Inc. Pediatric Dentistry
Dental Treatment for Children
The following information is provided to allow you to consider possible risks, benefits and options, in order that you may
make an informed decision about your child’s dental treatment. Please read this form carefully and ask your child’s
dentist about anything you do not understand or anything that concerns you.
We treat our patients the same way we would want our own family members treated. However, some patients exhibit
behaviors that make it difficult or impossible to provide high quality care. In this instance, you as the guardian and we as
the dental professionals must come to an agreement about how to handle the behavior so that the necessary treatment can
be delivered safely.
Among the behaviors that can interfere with quality professional dental care are: hyperactivity, resistive movements,
refusing to open mouth or keep it open, and even aggressive or physical resistance to treatment, such as kicking,
screaming or grabbing the dentist's hands or sharp instruments.
Our goal is to help our patients master the dental experience. Some patients may cry as part of the learning process.
Crying can be a natural release of anxiety and / or an avoidance technique. All efforts will be made to obtain the
cooperation of our patients by use of warmth, friendliness, persuasion, distraction, humor, charm, gentleness, kindness,
and understanding.
In the event these efforts fail, there are several recognized management techniques that are used by dentists to gain
cooperation, and to prevent patients from causing injury to themselves. We combine the following recognized techniques
individually for each patient:
TELL-SHOW-DO: The patient is told what is to be done using simple words, and then shown what is to be done on a
dental model or finger. Then the procedure is done exactly as told. Praise is given to reinforce positive behavior. We do
not use words like “shot,” “needle,” “yank,” etc. and expect that you would also use non-threatening and kid-appropriate
language in our office.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: This technique rewards cooperative behavior. Rewards include praise, compliments, a
high-five, sticker or a prize, etc.
MOUTH REST (“Tooth Chair”): A device placed in the patient's mouth for patient comfort while the dentist is working
and to prevent accidental closing and / or injury.
NITROUS OXIDE (“Laughing Gas”): This method is highly effective in patients with mild to moderate levels of dental
anxiety. It will help the patient to relax and feel more comfortable.
DIAZEPAM (Valium): This is a medication prescribed by the dentist for some patients that need more than nitrous oxide
(“laughing gas”) to overcome their fears and anxiety.
HOLDING OR STABILIZING BOARD: Holding the hands, head, or upper body to prevent the patient from making
sudden and unsafe movements. A personal protective device used to limit sudden, unsafe movements and to prevent
injury while the dentist provides the necessary treatment. These are very rarely used in our office and mostly for
emergency situations. Parents are always present in the room and are expected to assist in these cases.
HOSPITAL DENTISTRY: Some patients’ dental treatment can only be accomplished safely and effectively in a hospital
operating room under general anesthesia. In the event this is necessary, additional information would be provided prior to
proceeding.