Comparative Evaluation of Behavioral and Physiological Outcomes on Dental Anxiety of Children Undergoing Dental Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Aim: To compare and assess the efficacy of behavior management methods in reducing dental anxiety by using different facial scales and measuring the hemodynamic parameters before, during, and after the dental procedure.

Settings and designs: The present research work was conducted in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry at Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, well equipped with the facilities required to assess and compare the level of anxiety in 180 children aged 4-8 years coming for the first time to the dental clinic for restorative dental procedures using three nonpharmacological behavior management techniques in reducing dental anxiety.

Materials and methods: By chit method, the equal sample was subdivided into group I as tell-show-do (TSD), group II as tell-play-do (TPD), group III as tell-read-do (TRD), and group IV as Control (no intervention). Additionally, changes in parameters on the hemodynamic grounds, such as blood pressure, heart rate (HR), or oxygen saturation level, were monitored using picture image scales such as the revised memory and screening-pictorial scale (RMS-PS) and visual pain scale.

Results: Marked reduction in HR, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and anxiety score were recorded in groups III and II.

Conclusion: Providing information and educating the child prior to the dental treatment using any intervention can cause a marked reduction in the level of anxiety experienced by pediatric patients.

How to cite this article: Giri S, Saha S, Dhinsa K, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Behavioral and Physiological Outcomes on Dental Anxiety of Children Undergoing Dental Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(4):383-393.

Keywords: Behavior modification; Blood pressure; Dental anxiety; Heart rate; Oxygen saturation.

Fig. 1:

Conditioning child using TSD

Fig. 2:

Little Lovely Dentist app

Fig. 3:

Self-designed dental storybook

Fig. 4:

Biofeedback device; blue image correlates with a decreased heart rate; and red image correlates with an increased heart rate

Fig. 5:

RMS-PS for boys

Fig. 6:

RMS-PS for girls

Fig. 7:

Visual pain scale