reasons for dental anxiety.
One of the great debates in paediatric dentistry centres on whether parents should be
allowed in the dental surgery while their child is receiving treatment. A child's
family, it could be argued, can offer emotional support during treatment. There is no
doubt that within the medical field there is great support for the concept of a parent
actually 'living in' while a child is hospitalized. However, the issue is not so clear-cut
Fig. 2.5 Positive reinforcement is important. (With thanks to David Myers and
kind permission of Eden Bianchi Press.)
Fig. 2.6 Should we allow parents into the surgery? (With thanks to David
Myers and kind permission of Eden Bianchi Press.)