ABSTRACT
There is widespread agreement that dental attitudes developed in childhood can have great influence on later dental attitudes and behavior. Memories of early unpleasant or traumatic dental experiences can persist for long years after the child has grown to maturity and, in fact, many fearful adult patients attribute their fear and avoidance of dental treatment to early traumatic dental experiences (Kleinknecht, Klepac & Alexander, 1973; Shoben & Borland, 1954).
