Behaviour Management in Paediatric Dentistry — NDEB AFK MCQ

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EasyPaediatric DentistryBehaviour Management in Paediatric DentistryNDEB AFK

A healthy 8-year-old requires treatment of a carious mandibular primary first molar. The child is cooperative but anxious. Which behaviour management technique involves verbal praise when the child exhibits desired behaviour?

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Correct answer: B — Positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a behaviour management technique that uses rewards (verbal praise, stickers, tokens, small toys) to encourage and maintain desired behaviour. Immediate verbal praise ('You're doing a great job sitting still!') reinforces cooperative behaviour. It is one of the most fundamental and universally accepted non-pharmacological behaviour management techniques in paediatric dentistry. Tell-show-do involves explaining, demonstrating, and then performing the procedure.

Reference: Dean – McDonald and Avery's Dentistry for the Child and Adolescent, 11th ed., 2021