Child Misbehavior in the Dental Setting Is Generally Assumed To Be Fear

摘要

There are a number of reasons for a child to misbehave in the dentalsetting. The aim of this study was to compare provider ratings of fear and defi anceto standardized assessments of children’s fear and defi ance. Results suggest thatmisbehavior by defi ant children in the dental setting is frequently thought to be relatedto fear. Providers may not be able to accurately distinguish between defi ance and fear.