Comparison of Three Behavior Modification Techniques for Management of Anxious Pediatric Dental Patients Aged 4-6...

Dental anxiety is frequently observed in children and often poses a significant challenge to providing effective and high-quality dental care. Managing a child's anxiety in the clinical setting is a critical factor in ensuring the success of pediatric dental treatments. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of three nonpharmacological behavior management techniques-tell-show-do (TSD), audiovisual distraction (AVD), and smartphone dentist game-in managing anxiety among children aged 4-6 years.

A total of 192 children aged between 4 and 6 years who exhibited a Frankl's behavior rating of 2 or 3 and required class I dental restorations were included in the study. The children were divided into three equal groups of 64 each: group I-TSD, group II-AVD, and group III-smartphone dentist game. To assess anxiety levels, the facial image scale (FIS), Venham's clinical anxiety rating scale (VCRS), pulse rate (PR), and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were used.

The results of the present study showed statistically significant difference between three groups in terms of FIS, VCRS, and SpO₂ scores (p < 0.001), whereas no statistically significant difference was found in terms of PR scores.

Smartphone dentist game was the most effective in reducing anxiety during cavity preparation using airotor in pediatric dental patients aged 4-6 years, and TSD technique was the least effective method among the three.

Safoora AK, Vadakkepurayil K, Santhakumar M. Comparison of Three Behavior Modification Techniques for Management of Anxious Pediatric Dental Patients Aged 4-6 Years during Cavity Preparation Using Airotor: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2026;19(3):337-342.