0. Relaxed,smiling, willing and able to converse.
1. Uneasy,concerned.During stressful procedure may protest briefly and quietly to indicate discomfort. Hands remaind own or partially raised to signal discomfort. Child willing and able to interpret experience as requested. Tense facial expression, may have tears in eyes.
2. Child appears scared.Toneof voice, question sand answers reflect anxiety. Durings tressful proce- dure, verbal protest, (quiet) crying, hands tense andraised, (not interfering much-- maytouch dentist’s hand or instrument,but not pull at it). Child interprets situation with reason able accuracy and continuesto work to cope with his/her anxiety.
3. Shows reluctance to enter situation, difficulty in correctly assessing situational threat. Pronounced verbal protest, crying. Using handsto try to stop procedure.Protest out of proportion to threat. Copes with situation with great reluctance.
4. Anxiety interferes with ability to assess situation. General crying not related to treatment. More prominent body movement.Child can be reached through verbal communication, and eventually
with reluctance andgreat effort he or she begins the work of copingwith the threat.
5. Child out of contact with the reality of the threat. Genera1loud crying, unableto listen to verbal communication makes no effort to cope with threat.Actively involved ines cape behavior.Physical
restraint required.