THE EFFECT OF MOTHERS PAST DENTAL EXPERIENCE ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF SOME NIGERIAN CHILDREN DURING DENTAL TREATMENT

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the mother’s past dental 
experience on the behaviour of some Nigerian children during dental treatment. Two 
hundred and sixty children aged 3 – 15 years participated in this study. They were 
treated at the three government dental establishments in Ibadan, a city in 
southwestern Nigeria, over a six-month period. The children’s behaviour during 
different stages of treatment were determined by the Frankl’s Behaviour Rating Scale. 
The outcome of the study revealed that the mother’s past dental experiences were 
found to influence the children’s behaviour at the initial steps of treatment. On entering 
the operatory, 92.5% of the children whose mothers had pleasant memories of their 
dental experiences reacted positively in comparison to 60% who had mothers with 
previous traumatic experiences (p<0.05). During examination, 92.5% of children 
whose mothers enjoyed dental treatment in the past complied, while 68.0% who had 
mothers with past negative experiences were cooperative (p<0.05). Behaviour of 
children at latter stages of treatment revealed a tendency towards improved behaviour 
where the mothers past dental experiences had been pleasurable. From this study, it 
has been established that enquiring into the mother’s past dental experience, among 
other things, is important for successful child dental care. Even though it was 
significant only at the preliminary stages of treatment, it would appear that these 
stages are the most critical in gaining the childs confidence and getting him 
accustomed to the clinic environment. In circumstances where mother’s past dental 
experience has been negative, the dentist will need to educate, counsel and allay the 
fears, which may have persisted in such parents for years. This will help reassure the 
parents as the mothers cooperation will be needed in order to provide the children with 
the best dental care. Where the mothers’ unpleasant dental experiences had 
influenced the childs behaviour negatively, efforts should be geared towards instituting 
appropriate behaviour management skills in these children in order to bring about a 
higher level of compliance during dental visits.