Reaction versus response sounds like wordplay, yet the difference decides how a child copes in the dental chair. The two terms are commonly used interchangeably, although they are not the same.
Two different processes
Biologically, a reaction is a chemical process. Reactants of different natures combine to form a product entirely different from either.
A response is something else. It comes from a matured space in the head and the heart, and it follows proper understanding of conscious, correct information.
The primal brain picks first
In any situation, reaction versus response is a choice available to us. The primal, hunter-gatherer brain tends to seize the fear-provoking information.
It then triggers the quickest action, unthought and uncomprehended. Reactions therefore arrive wrapped in strong emotion: anger, rejection, crying, or running from the situation.
Responses look different. They are deliberate, measured and rational, and they may take a little while to form. Right information is the key to all of it.
Applying this to a dental appointment
The same principle determines how a child behaves in the chair. During the pre-procedure appointment, every step should be detailed in advance.
Parents can be prepared through brochures, videos and online links covering the upcoming appointment. Consequently they reinforce the pediatric dentist’s guidance at home, which adds to the child’s understanding and confidence.
Information has to fit the child
The information given should be of the highest order. It must also be structured and pitched to the child’s age.
The intention is simple. Give the information so well that the child can understand it and use it to build a positive experience.
With awareness in place, children respond rather than react during check-ups and treatment. That serves the foundational goal of pediatric dentistry: a positive dental attitude for life. See how this works in slow approach dentistry and behaviour modification.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry similarly recommends preparing children before treatment.
Prepare your child for a calm appointment
Ask us what will happen step by step, and we will send it before you come in. Call +971 50 682 3462 or book an appointment with Dr. Imneet Madan in Dubai.
