• “PSYCHOLOGIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT”.

• Study of psychologic growth and development is very

important for dentists to recognize characteristics behavior for
a child at a given age and to identify any deviation from
normal, thus we can effectively work with the patient.
• STONE AND CHURCH in 1975 have segregated child
development into 5 phases.

• Infant
• Toddler
• Pre-Schooler
• Middle year child
• Adolescent
• 1. Infant – 1st year of life

– Child totally dependent for physical and emotional needs.

– If a child is not given emotional nurturing beyond a

critical period of time, he may develop psychologic
depression.
– During the first few weeks of life, the child is totally self
centered, urging and accepts his dependency upon mother
and offering nothing in return

– By 4-6 weeks the child tries to acknowledge someone by a

social smile. It is one of the first social interactions in
which the child participates, marking the development of
attachment and behavior.
• 2. Toddler – 15 weeks to 5 years.
• This stage is defined as the regulatory process of environment
over behavior

• The child wants his needs met immediately and wants to

receive pleasure.

• This age is aptly been called as the “Terrible two’s”, because

the child is very adamant, shows extreme negativism, anger
and shows temper tantrums.
• Child uses the word ‘No’ as he is trying to assert control.

• Dental examination is done with child in the parents lap.

• 3. Pre-schooler (3-6 years)

• The child gets changed to a sophisticated social being.

• This period is marked by development of a strong attachment

for the parent of opposite sex and rivalry with the same sexed.

• Because of the child’s self awareness and fears, particularly of

pain and bleeding, we must be alert to avoid actions, words or
procedures that would cause anxiety.
• 4. Middle year child (6-12 Years, puberty)

• A major shift occurs in his life

• The child leaves security of his home and enters school.

• This causes the major step of separation and individualization

in him.
• School phobia is common and it is gradually overcome by
playing and making friends.

• The child plays in a group, which mature from the unorganized

poorly regulated activity of 6-7 years to more structural play of
9-11 years old.
• This is the stage where there is maximum separation of sexes.

• The individual is busy acquiring new knowledge in school and

engaged in playing resulting in new cognitive skills

• Sigmund Freud called this stage as “latency stage”.

• This is a time of loose tooth.

• In a dental department they usually show less behavioral

problems, where they can accept reason and anxiety can be
dealt quite easily.
• 5. Adolescent (12-18 years – full maturity)

• Adolescence is a psychological state of development, where as

puberty a physical state.

• The beginning of adolescence coincides with puberty i.e.,

physical maturation but ends with the accomplishment and
completion of the developmental tasks of this age period.
• The longer the period of dependency exists, the longer is the
state o adolescence. 3 sub periods of adolescence

• Early

• Middle and

• Late adolescence
• “Early Adolescence”.

• This begins with pubertal growth spurts and continues for 12-
18 months. Girls usually 11-13 years and boys 12.15 years.

• Outwardly they may be quiet, but inner sexual feelings are

aroused.

• He/She is concerned about peer status and wants to be popular

because self awareness is intensified and there is a new push
for independence
• Sexual elements of early adolescence are directed towards
sports.

• At this stage competitiveness with parent of same sex recurs as

in 3-5 years and there will be strong attachment towards the
parent of opposite sex.

• Stimulation of normal increase of male and female hormones

in seen.
• Middle adolescence (14-16 years)

• It is called “Trum oil” of adolescence

• A rather paradoxical time when the so called mature cheerful

and independent teenager suddenly gets transformed into a
moody child like person.

• It is during this period that they get into drug abuse, smoking,
alcoholism etc.
• “Late Adolescence”.

• At this age the conflict of the individual is more with SELF,

than with the external environment.

• In the dental department, these age groups usually response

appreciately, but may be bit moody and sensitive requiring
affection and attention from our part.
• Application of child psychology in Dental practice.

• A sound knowledge of child psychology and development will

help us to detect deviations from normal patterns.

• This in turn helps us to know about the various factors which

restrict the child from obtaining treatment like cry, resistance,
anxiety, fear, Phobia etc.