Experiential learning for children's dental anxiety: a cluster randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Behavioral Science
• Health Education

Background:

• Dental anxiety (DA) negatively impacts children's dental care quality and can have lasting effects.
• Experiential learning (EL) has previously improved children's oral hygiene.
• This study investigates EL's potential to mitigate DA in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an experiential learning (EL) intervention in reducing dental anxiety (DA) among children.
• To compare the effectiveness of EL with the conventional Tell-Show-Do (TSD) method in managing children's anxiety during dental procedures.

Main Methods:

• A cluster-randomized trial involving 988 children aged 7-8 years was conducted.
• Children were assigned to either an EL group (simulated dental clinic role-play) or a TSD group (conventional behavior management).
• Primary outcome was high DA post-pit and fissure sealant (PFS) using a modified Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale; secondary outcomes included blood pressure and pulse rate changes.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of high DA was significantly lower in the EL group (18.5%) compared to the TSD group (24.3%) (OR=0.65, P=0.019).
• Increases in blood pressure and pulse rate post-PFS were significantly less pronounced in the EL group.
• The EL intervention demonstrated a positive impact on physiological stress indicators during dental treatment.

Conclusions:

• School-based EL interventions are a feasible and effective strategy for reducing dental anxiety in children during PFS procedures.
• Experiential learning offers a promising approach to improve the dental experience for pediatric patients.
• The findings support the integration of EL into oral health promotion programs for children.