Abstract
BACKGROUND: Paediatric dentists often report using positive reinforcement to encourage their young patients to show
co-operative behaviour. For effective reinforcement to take place the reward should be salient to the individual. To date, there is
little research into what reward a young patient will choose when attending the dentist.
AIM: To identify what reward children between the age of 4–8 years will choose when attending the dentist, and to determine
the extent of agreement between children and caregivers in reward choice.
METHOD: Observational study. Fifty-two children from different age groups (4–5 years, 6–7 years and 8 years) attending a
primary-care dental clinic were asked to choose between a range of different rewards. The caregiver attending with them was also
asked to anticipate the child’s preferred choice.
RESULTS: There was no clear favourite reward for children from both genders and different age group. However, no child
chose the ‘sticker’ reward that is traditionally given out at the dentist. Overall carers agreed with the child’s choice of toy on
18 occasions (34.6%), but there were significant differences across the age groups with carers of older children showing less
agreement
CONCLUSION: To ensure that rewards are salient, children should be given a choice of rewards when attending the dental clinic.
Parents ability to predict their child’s preferred rewards decreases as the child ages.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A child’s motivation to co-operate during dental treatment can be increased by offering a range of rewards.
Asking children to choose their reward from a limited range will increase the saliency of the reward for the child.
co-operative behaviour. For effective reinforcement to take place the reward should be salient to the individual. To date, there is
little research into what reward a young patient will choose when attending the dentist.
AIM: To identify what reward children between the age of 4–8 years will choose when attending the dentist, and to determine
the extent of agreement between children and caregivers in reward choice.
METHOD: Observational study. Fifty-two children from different age groups (4–5 years, 6–7 years and 8 years) attending a
primary-care dental clinic were asked to choose between a range of different rewards. The caregiver attending with them was also
asked to anticipate the child’s preferred choice.
RESULTS: There was no clear favourite reward for children from both genders and different age group. However, no child
chose the ‘sticker’ reward that is traditionally given out at the dentist. Overall carers agreed with the child’s choice of toy on
18 occasions (34.6%), but there were significant differences across the age groups with carers of older children showing less
agreement
CONCLUSION: To ensure that rewards are salient, children should be given a choice of rewards when attending the dental clinic.
Parents ability to predict their child’s preferred rewards decreases as the child ages.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A child’s motivation to co-operate during dental treatment can be increased by offering a range of rewards.
Asking children to choose their reward from a limited range will increase the saliency of the reward for the child.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-3 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | BDJOpen |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Sept 2017 |