Enhancing special care dentistry with sensory-adapted dental environment: A comparative study

Abstract

Aim: To compare and evaluate the effect of sensory-adapted dental environment (SADE) and regular dental environment in reducing anxiety levels in children with intellectual disabilities. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in children with mild intellectual disabilities aged 8–13 years. The developmental screening test was utilized in screening and including these children with IQ scores between 52 and 67, and after random allocation, children were subjected to oral prophylaxis in the SADE and regular dental environment. Anxiety levels were assessed at baseline, 5 min, and at the end of the procedure using Venham's anxiety rating scale, pulse rate, and blood pressure values. Results: The data were coded and analyzed using software SPSS (IBM version 22.0) for statistical analysis. Comparison between the groups was done using independent t-test and repeated measured ANOVA for objective assessment of intergroup and intragroup anxiety levels, respectively, and using Mann–Whitney U-test and Friedman's test for subjective assessment of intergroup and intragroup anxiety levels, respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that SADE significantly decreased anxiety levels and cooperative behavior in children with mild intellectual disability and can be used as an alternative behavior management technique in effectively handling children with intellectual disability.

Keywords

• dental anxiety
• mild intellectual disability
• sensory-adapted dental environment
• special care dentistry