Behavior management techniques in predoctoral and postdoctoral pediatric dentistry programs

This study surveyed predoctoral and postdoctoral pediatric dental programs, to determine what behavior management techniques are being taught. The expected didactic and clinical proficiency levels were determined for behavior management techniques in four categories: sedation, restraint, parental presence, and communicative behavior management. Postdoctoral programs expect clinical proficiency in most of the 20 selected management techniques while predoctoral programs expect clinical basic competency in some techniques and do not teach others. Both program levels emphasize communicative behavior management techniques. A high percentage of both programs anticipate no change in the teaching of most of the 20 selected techniques. For both types of programs, less emphasis or elimination of "hand-over-mouth" techniques but more emphasis on parental presence for the introductory visit, using positive reinforcement, and using age-appropriate language and descriptions is anticipated. The two most influential factors affecting these anticipated changes were parental preference and changing standards in pediatric dentistry.