A child becomes hysterical during elective restorative care. What next?
Pause treatment and assess pain, fear, and immediate safety rather than continue through hysterics.
- Reassess the guidance approach and urgency, explain alternatives to the parent, and obtain new consent if changing techniques.
- For elective care, bring the procedure to a safe stopping point and defer when reasonable, with disease control and follow-up.
- Protective stabilization should stop as soon as possible for severe distress.