Effectiveness of different behavior guidance techniques in managing children with negative behavior in a dental setting: A randomized control study

Abstract

Background: Dental fear is a common cause of uncooperative behavior among young children, which poses a challenge in providing effective dental treatment. With the advancements in technology, several behavior guidance techniques in the form of distraction have emerged over time for managing uncooperative pediatric dental patients. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of four different behavior guidance techniques in managing uncooperative pediatric patients by measuring pre- and post-operative dental fear/anxiety levels using physiological and nonphysiological parameters. Methodology: Sixty systemically healthy children aged 5–8 years with negative behavior as per Frankl's Rating Scale, requiring restoration were included in the study and randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 15), based on the guidance techniques used: Tell-Show-Do (TSD) as a control group and audio distraction, audiovisual distraction (AVD) (virtual reality [VR]) and Mobile Phone Game Distraction as test groups. Pre- and post-intervention levels of the child's fear/anxiety were assessed using both physiological (blood pressure and pulse rate) and nonphysiological (facial image scale) parameters. The data were evaluated using t-test and one-way ANOVA test. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in both physiological and non-physiological parameters post-intervention in the groups with a maximum decrease in the AVD (VR) group. Conclusions: AVD (VR) was found to be the most effective while TSD alone as the least effective behavior guidance technique in reducing dental fear/anxiety in uncooperative pediatric dental patients.

Keywords

• anxiety
• behavior guidance
• dental fear
• distraction
• uncooperative children