TEXTBOOK ON CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Child psychology is one of the many branches of psychology. This particularbranch focuses on the mind and behavior of children from prenatal development through the adolescence. Child psychology deals not only with how children grow physically, but with their mental, emotional, and social development as well. The objective of the science is to develop in a dental practitioner an understanding of the interpersonal social force that influences a patient¿s behavior. The foundation of practicing dentistry on children is the ability to guide them through their dental experiences. This ability is a prerequisite to provide their immediate dental needs. The concept of treating the patient and not just the tooth should be the operative with all patients, but is essential with a child patient.One major aspect of child management in the dental chair is managing dental anxiety, a worldwide problem and universal barrier to oral health care. The dentist treating a child patient almost always assesses one aspect of behavior ¿ cooperativeness. Cooperative behavior is the key to render treatment.