The child and the adolescent: new rights for an "old" minority.

The use of the learning model is a necessary prerequisite for rendering dental care to the child or adolescent. The awareness of the emotional needs of the child and adolescent and the ability of the doctor to handle them is a requirement for an individual to treat these persons. The treatment plan and methods of treatment are essential factors in the behavioral management of the child or adolescent. There is a normal range for grwoth, development, and maturation in which sequences, timing, and rates of changes are critical. A cross-sectional approach in rendering care is not appropriate in learning to work with children and adolescents. The doctor who renders the care for this age group should be well versed in certain aspects of behavior, as this will affect the treatment plan and methodology, but that doctor must also have the technical abilities to do the spectrum of services to which the patient is entitled. One without the other is a definite compromise for the patient. If the doctor does not further pursue additional assistance from his colleagues, the rights of the child or adolescent have been violated.