Intervention of cognitive behavioral therapy on the cooperation degree of preschool children with dental anxiety

Abstract

Objective To assess the clinical effect of cognitive behavior therapy on the oral treatment of preschool children with dental anxiety.Methods 86 children aged 3-6 years with dental anxiety were divided into experimental group and control group randomly. Children in experimental group were treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. Children in control group were treated with the Tell-Show-Do behavioral therapy. Through the observation of children’s cooperation and evaluation of Frankl treatment index, treatment effect of cognitive behavioral therapy applied in preschool children with dental anxiety was evaluated.Results In experimental group, 38 children can cooperate with treatment, while 5 children can’t cooperate. In control group, 24 children can cooperate with treatment, while 19 cases can’t cooperate. Children in the experimental group is significantly more cooperative (χ2 = 11.328, P<0.01). Frankl index shows 2.61 ± 0.82 in experimental group and 1.93 ± 0.96 in the control group respectively. Treatment effect of the experimental group is significant (F = 1.956, P<0.01).Conclusion When cognitive behavioral therapy applied on preschool children with dental anxiety, first of all we should make necessary emotional control, then painless treatment, the children’s fear can be gradually relieved.

Keywords

• Dental anxiety，
• Cooperation degree in treatment，
• Cognitive behavioral therapy，
• Induced behavior，
• Pediatric，