The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors influencing the adaptability of the child to the first visit to dental clinic. The subjects encompased a total of 306 persons consisting of 102 children ranging from 3 to 12 years of age and 204 parents who had visited the dental clinic of the Department of Pedodontics, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University. A total of 39 items were evaluated by means of psychological tests (child-personality test and parents-upbringing test), and questionnaires recorded in dental charts.
Children were classified into two groupsthe adaptation group and the maladaptation group according to their attitude shown at the first visit. The personality of the child and the manner of the parents in bringing up the child were analized in the two groups.
The results are summarized as follows:
1. The subjects were able to be divided into two groups 63 children in the adaptation group (61.8%) and 39 children in the maladaptation group (38.2% )according to the adaptability to the first visit.
2. Among the psychological factors influencing adaptability to the first visit to the dental clinic, were found significant differences between the two groups in the following points.
1) The manner of the father in upbringing in the “positive disapproval pattern” category.
2) The manner of the mother in upbringing in the “anxiety pattern”, “dotage pattern” and “blinde obedience pattern” categories.
3) The personality of the child “aggressive movement pattern”, “sociality pattern” and “social stability pattern” categories.
4) The age of the child in the questionnaire survey.