AGE-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

INFANTS (Birth to 12 months) & TODDLERS (1-3)

• Call child by name
• Speak in soothing manner
• Seat child in parent's lap when appropriate
• Acknowledge there may be resistance to procedures and recommend assistive
  restraint or restraining devices.
• Restrain only as necessary using the least aversive technique.
• Use toys and nonverbal communication

PRE SCHOOL (Age 4-6)

• Call child by name
• Speak in soothing manner
• Establish a rapport and acquaint them with new strange environment
• Tell-Show-Do
• Consider child's requests during procedures
• Answer questions honestly using appropriate terminology
• Restrain only as necessary using the least aversive technique

SCHOOL AGE (7-12)

• Call patient by name
• Introduce yourself
• Explain the procedure (Tell-Show-Do)
• Explain to child how they can help
• Consider child's requests
• Answer questions in age appropriate terminology

ADOLESCENTS (13-18)

• Call patient by name
• Introduce yourself
• Explain the procedure, what is being done and why
• Answer questions honestly
• Consider patients requests during procedures

STANDARDS FOR ALL AGES

• Be friendly
• Communicate at age (mentality) appropriate level
• Inform parent/guardian of findings and treatment recommendations in
  understandable terminology
• Obtain informed consent before invasive treatment
  whenever possible
• Inform parents of various behaviors that can be expected from children of the same
  age and with similar conditions
• Inform parents of various resources available to them
• Council parents/guardians on the importance of age appropriate preventive care
  (See Appendix I AAPD "Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Dental Care")
• Adhere to AAPD Guidelines for Behavior Management at all times
  (see Appendix II)