[Role of psychologic factors in dental practice with siblings]

Results of a study of psychologic environmental factors and their effects on siblings in terms of fear from dental interventions are presented. Thirty pairs of siblings aged 6-15 years, treated at the Zagreb University Institute of Pediatric and Preventive Dental Medicine in Zagreb, were included in the study. The main criterion for inclusion in the study was the fact that one child accepted the treatment without reluctance, while the other child from the same family refused it or accepted it with considerable difficulties. According to this criterion, a cooperative group and a non-cooperative group of children were formed. The study was performed using a poll taken by means of a special questionnaire containing 22 questions. Results showed the psychologic environmental factors to have a marked but not most important role in the genesis of fear from dental interventions in children. Each child revealed himself/herself to be a person of his/her own, whereas environment, i.e. upbringing and education, was found to induce specific reactions in each of them. Therefore, care must be taken by a dental doctor-pedodontist to approach each little patient individually, fully respecting his/her personality.