Dental CE Course: Managing the Pediatric Dental Patient

Course Description
The goals of behavior management in dentistry are to establish effective communication, to alleviate patient fear and anxiety and build a trusting relationship with the patient that will ultimately allow the dentist to deliver quality dental care and promote in the patient a positive attitude towards dental care and oral health.

Behavioral management of this diverse group (including children and adolescents under age 21 years, patients who present behavioral challenges due to mental, physical or medical disabilities) has been traditionally considered to fall into two areas, Basic Behavior Guidance Techniques and Advanced Behavior Guidance. This course examines each of these areas in detail and offers advice in the use of basic management techniques (Tell-show-do (TSD), modeling and distraction) that can be applied in the dental office. Advanced management modalities (physical management, aversive management and pharmacologic management) are discussed but their use will require further training to satisfy professional board requirements.

Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this course the participant should be able to:
Describe the behavior management goals for pediatric dental patients and other patient groups whose behavior requires management to permit the delivery of quality dental care
Describe and perform techniques of Basic Behavior Guidance
Describe techniques of Advanced Behavior Management