Exploring Novel Behavior Modification Techniques-Comparing the Effectiveness of Bach Flower Therapy and Bubble Breath...

Pediatric patients' acclimatization to dental care is a necessary precondition for meeting their current and future oral health demands. Various behavior guidance techniques aimed at patient management, such as play therapy and Bach flower therapy (BFT), have gained popularity recently but with little evidence to prove their effectiveness. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of BFT and bubble breath play therapy (BBPT) in clinical situations and compare them with the conventional Tell-Show-Do (TSD) technique.

A total of 45 children (aged 4-8 years) with baseline anxiety were randomly divided into three groups: BFT, BBPT, and TSD. All children received either oral prophylaxis or restorative treatment. Dental anxiety was evaluated pretreatment, during, and posttreatment using Venham's anxiety and behavioral rating scale and physiological parameters.

A significant reduction in mean pulse rate and blood pressure (BP) was observed postapplication of BFT and BBPT but not in the TSD group. However, intraoperatively, the TSD group showed maximum improvement in anxiety levels, with 80% of participants showing Venham's rating of 0.

TSD is found to be most effective in allaying dental fear. While Bach flower and BBPT could both improve baseline anxiety, they did not alleviate dental fear and anxiety during treatment. Nevertheless, these alternative techniques are useful, especially in patients with subjective fears.

The ability to guide pediatric patients through their dental experience is a prerequisite for the success of any dental treatment in children. Various approaches for behavior guidance have evolved over the years. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of both the conventional and alternative behavior guidance techniques are necessary to help the clinician in exercising appropriate methods in practice.

Balakrishnan V, Ramachandran P, Martha S, et al. Exploring Novel Behavior Modification Techniques-Comparing the Effectiveness of Bach Flower Therapy and Bubble Breath Play Therapy on Dental Anxiety in Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(6):677-682.