Influence of Different Parenting Styles on Dentist’s Treatment Plan

Abstract

Every paediatric dentist desires to treat their patients in a stress and anxiety free environment. All steps including diagnosis of the condition, explaining the existing dental status to the patient and treatment planning are based on the mental attitude of the patient and how the dentist reciprocates it. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of different parenting styles on the dentist’s treatment plan. A convenience sample size of parent-children pairs were selected as participants. Analysis of the mental attitude of the parents was carried out from the very first instant the parent-child pair walked in the dental office. The parents were classified into the four categories of parenting styles which are, authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and uninvolved. 83% of the parents accepted the treatment plan without any signs of hesitation or doubt; whereas 17% of the parents denied the treatment option suggested by the dentist or accepted after lots of questions and hesitation. Parenting styles has no influence on dentist’s treatment plan. Parenting styles cannot be used efficiently to classify parental mentality in pediatric dentistry.