Understanding Primitive Reflexes and Their Role In Growth And Development: A Review

Abstract

Reflexes are set motor responses to specific sensory stimuli. In newborns and young infants these primitive reflexes are an important assessment tool. Children with a distinctive reflex are difficult to treat. This includes a large category in which primitive reflexes are retained longer than necessary. Certain reflexes may not appear at appropriate age of development. Many neurological conditions are characterized by aberrations in reflex actions. However, there is scarcity of data for high-risk infants pertaining to this topic. Dental treatment becomes challenging in these individuals and sometimes due to lack of compliance even necessary emergency dental treatment is difficult to carry out.