Effectiveness of Euphemism with and without Self-designed Pictorial Flashcard in the Form of Dental Pictionary as Behavior Modification Technique in 4–6-year-old Children: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Background: Various linguistic, innovative, and pharmaceutical therapies have been established to control children's anxious and cooperative behaviors. The use of euphemism in verbal communication is an important part of behavior modification. A dentist's or a staff's choice of words is crucial in order to influence the patient's emotional state. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the anxiety level and pulse rate of children with and without using Dental Pictionary in the form of flashcards as a behavior modification technique. Materials and methods: A total of 148 children were included in the study, aged between 4 and 6 years, and divided into two groups. Group A—behavior modification using Dental Pictionary in the form of flashcards and group B—behavior modification without using flashcards. The study was carried out in two visits. Before and after intervention pulse rate, facial image scale (FIS), and Venham scale (VS) were recorded. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between group A and group B regarding pulse rate, FIS, and VS (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Dental Pictionary based on euphemism was found to be a promising behavior modification technique for 4–6-year-old children.

Keywords

• behavior modification
• dental pictionary
• euphemism
• facial image scale
• flashcards