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

Authors

  • John E. Nathan Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Alabama, Birmingham and Case Western

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17140/PNNOJ-4-e007

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.

References

Weaver JM. Why is Restraint still acceptable for Dentistry? Anesth Prog

Nathan JE, Rayman M, Golden B, Vargas KG. Discretionary parent and parents. Pediatr Neonatal Nurs Open J. 2015; 2(2): 50-61. doi:

AAPD. Clinical Guidelines for Protective Stabilization of Pediatric

Vargas KG, Nathan JE, Qian F, Kupiesky A. Use of restraint and A survey of pediatric dentists. Pediatr Dent. 2007; 29(3): 220-227.

Nathan JE. The evolution and changing patterns of behavior Dentistry. 2016; 6(5): 1-2. doi: 10.4172/2161-1122.1000e117

Wilson S, Nathan JE. A survey study in sedation training in 353-360. Web site. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aapd/pd.

White J, Wells M, Kristopher LA, Martin D, MarjorieAW.Aquestionnaire dentistry. Pediatr Dent. 2016; 38(2): 116-121.

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Published

2017-03-30

How to Cite

John E. Nathan. (2017). The Appropriateness (or lack thereof) of Physical Restraints for Managing Challenging Pediatric Dental Behavior. Pediatrics and Neonatal Nursing, 4(1), e1-e3. https://doi.org/10.17140/PNNOJ-4-e007

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2017): Volume 4 Issue 1 2017

Section

Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

All content published in Pediatrics and Neonatal Nursing (PNN) is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license allows anyone to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt the work — including for commercial purposes — provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and source.