Should Parents be in the Operatory? Dr. SanjuktaMohanta is a general dentist in Brampton, Ontario. When Dr. Sanjukta Mohanta was a child, she recalls that it was uncommon for parents to accompany their children into the dental operatory. “Kids were independent and there was a belief that parents’ anxiety could be relayed to their children.” Some dentists feel that having parents in the operatory can interfere with treatment by causing distraction or confusion over who should give instructions to young patients in the chair. “Parents intervening can sometimes make dental treatment go worse,” says Dr. Mohanta. “I’ve seen parents yell, scold or threaten their children when they were acting inappropriately in the dental operatory, which heightens stress for everyone.” When Dr. Mohanta became a dentist, she would politely ask parents to leave the operatory during treatment. “But I noticed reluctance from some parents and occasionally children would get upset and ask for their parent to return.” She asked a colleague who was studying pediatric dentistry if she had any resources or best practices that she could share. “I was surprised to learn that having parents present doesn’t seem to make a difference in children’s behaviour,” Dr. Mohanta says. “So then I thought, if it doesn’t make a difference, I’ll just ask my patients what they would prefer.” Now, Dr. Mohanta finds that having a parent in the operatory makes her time with pediatric patients more successful. “A parent can help soothe a child and their presence contributes to a sense of trust and safety,” she says. She explains that there are a number of benefits to having parents in the operatory; they can provide encouragement and positive reinforcement to young patients. “I think children also have a sense that A parent can help soothe a child and their presence contributes to a sense of trust and safety. 26 | 2023 | Issue 3
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