The Appropriateness (or lack thereof) of Physical Restraints for Managing Challenging Pediatric Dental Behavior

Abstract

Amongst the many controversial topics in the field of dentistry for children is the
relative appropriateness (or lack thereof) of the application of physical restraints for the management
of challenging and interfering child behavior. Believers in its appropriateness prefer
the euphemistic1 term “protective immobilization or stabilization” in contrast to the negative
connotation implied by simply describing physical restraint. This manuscript provides a critical
look from the perspective of a child-oriented behavioral researcher and private practitioner of
forty years who shares a most unenthusiastic bias towards a reliance on restraint techniques to
overcome interfering and undesirable child behavior. This bias is stipulated; from this author’s
perspective there are but a few indications under which application of immobilization devices
are safe and in the best interest of children and their developing psyche with respect to safe
delivery of treatment and the development of future attitudes toward care.