Children's response to sequential dental visits.

Behavioral, self-report, and physiological measures were used to study the response of young children to their initial series of dental visits. Their negative response increased from the examination visit through the third treatment visit, then decreased during the fourth treatment visit and the polish visit. Initially, dental experience appeared to sensitize the child to dental procedures. Experience may also allow the child to accurately distinguish bet ween stressful and nonstressful procedures.