Paediatric dentistry in the new millennium: 2. Behaviour management--helping children to accept dentistry

Children's dentistry can be a challenge for both the patient and the dentist. The way a dentist interacts with the child patient will have a major influence on the success of any clinical or preventive care. In order to deliver high-quality dentistry to a child whilst also developing a positive attitude towards dental health, the dentist should have a good understanding of the factors that might affect the behaviour of children in the dental setting. A working knowledge of strategies to minimize anxiety and make positive behaviour more likely is essential, as is a grasp of how best to deal with anxiety or negative behaviour.