DENTAL BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN SWEDISH CHILDREN

4505 Swedish children aged 4-11 yr were surveyed regarding dental beha vior management problems (BMP) and dental health. Dental charts were r etrieved from clinics in the Public Dental Service in Goteborg, and da ta were then compiled regarding BMP, action against BMP, caries, filli ngs, use of local anesthetics, and number of missed appointments. Beha vior management problems were found in 10.5% of the children, and were more common in the younger children, among children who missed appoin tments, and in children who received restorative treatment without loc al anesthetics. The BMP children had more carious and fewer filled sur faces. In 43.4% of the cases with BMP the strategy chosen was postpone ment of dental treatment or no measure taken.