A study of parental presence/absence technique for child dental behaviour management

To examine the effectiveness of parental presence/absence (PPA) technique on the dental behaviour management of children.

This randomised control study recruited 61 child dental patients with uncooperative behaviour (Frankl 1 or 2) managed with AAPD-endorsed non-pharmacological techniques at a post-graduate university clinic. PPA was only used in the test group (31 children). Using a mini video-tape device, recording commenced at the onset of uncooperative behaviour and this was later rated, minute by minute, by a blinded experienced paediatric dentist.

Data were analysed with SPSS v.13.0. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for normality analysis. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Log Rank analysis were also performed.

The mean point in time, after behavioural problems commenced that PPA or alternatives were applied was 1.82 ± 1.04 min. Behaviour improvement (technique success) was shown by 65.6% of all children. There was no statistically significant difference between the study and control groups in age, gender, mean Frankl score, in Frankl score 2 min before/after technique application or regarding the time point at which the technique was first applied. Behaviour improvement was seen in 17 patients (54.8%) in the PPA group and in 23 patients (76.7%) in the control group.

PPA applied to various dental sessions as a behaviour management technique showed no advantage over other basic, non-pharmacological techniques.