The document discusses the psychological management of children in dentistry based on Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory, outlining key developmental stages and their implications for dental practice. It emphasizes the importance of establishing trust and a sense of autonomy in younger children, as well as fostering industry and identity during later stages. Clinical applications include creating a supportive environment in dental settings to enhance trust and cooperation among children, adapting techniques to match their developmental needs.

1. Psychological management of child in dentistry
using Eric Erikson theory

2. PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY
Eric H. Erikson

3. Basic trust vs mistrust-birth to 18 m(Erik
Erikson)
• Successful development of trust depends on a caring and consistent mother or
mother substitute, who meets both the physiologic and emotional needs of the
infant.
Clinical importance-
• “Separation anxiety”
• In children with lack of trust : uncooperative, frightened Unstable mothering-
lack of sense of trust
.

4. • The child starts analysing the surrounding and any untoward
treatment against the comforts which is perceived with long
term impact on child developing mistrust.
• So clinical application is to bring the dental home into reality
and bring the child in 1st year itself where a chid perceives and
enhances its sensory motor development.
• As a child’s brain is absorbing all information around him and
storing it.Its importance is to portray dentistry as a safe place
and help him develop trust.

5. Autonomy v/s shame and doubt- Toddler
(18 months to 3 yrs)

6. • By 2yrs the child is enjoying his motor skills and
later pride in autonomous task and likes to do
thing on his own.
• So the child brought to clinic along with mother
and allows performing small tasks like switching
on the lights and encouraging by appreciating the
child for the good job which he did.

7. Preschooler -Initiative vs Guilt
(3-5 yrs)
The child uses its own initiative in planning or carrying out plans or if they cannot live within
parents’ limitations, they develop a sense of guilt over misbehaviour

8. • Child should be encouraged in tasks like
maintaining his oral hygiene and brushing
techniques are taught and later should be
reinforced with reinforces to encourage the
initiatives he made in the future.

9. Industry means, a willingness to remain busy with something and to finish a job.
As children do things well, they develop a sense of industry, but if their work is
insufficient to accomplish their goals, they acquire a sense of inferiority.
Industry vs. Inferiority

10. • Chair side procedure can carried out by child
and made occupied in an industrious task to
divert him from dental procedure.
• Example – filling the cup with water here way
syringe helps in externalization of the child’s
attention during drilling of cavity.

11. Identity vs. Role Confusion (11-18
yrs) Adolescence
• Adolescence, a period of intense physical development, is also
the stage in which a unique personal identity is acquired.
• Members of the peer group become important role models, and
the values and tastes of parents and other authority figures are
likely to be rejected.
• Sense of identity develops.
• Child has matured personality.
• He can satisfy his genital potency and realizes his goals for
reproduction and survival.
• Matures the personality of the individual

12. • The adolescent is trying to create his own identity in
the society, so helping his esthetics to be socially
acceptable by correcting malocclusion or composite
restorations for correction of mid line diastema
which will help him

13. With The
Philosophy Of
Treating The
Patient Not
The Tooth