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Impact of Bird-assisted Therapy in Anxious Pediatric Patients during Their First Dental Visit: A Randomized
Bhavana Tanya Dandekar1, Adnan Ahmed1, Aradhana Agrawal2
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Maitri College of Dentistry and Research Centre, Durg, Chhattisgarh, India.
Aim And Background:
Managing a child's behavior is often a major challenge for dentists. In the past, various behavior-modification techniques, such as modeling, tell-show-do, voice control, and desensitization, have shown limited results. Recently, bird-assisted therapy (B-AT) has gained importance in relieving patients' anxiety. This study aimed to examine the effect of the presence of birds on reducing patients' anxiety.
Materials And Methods:
In this randomized clinical trial, 40 healthy children aged 4-8 years who were attending their first dental visit were selected. Eligible participants had Frankl Behavior Rating Scale scores of 2 or 3 and were randomly assigned to group I, the control group without birds, or group II, the experimental group with birds. The children's anxiety before and after oral screening was recorded using three parameters: the Jeet Wheel Scale, pulse rate measured using a pulse oximeter, and the Modified Venham Anxiety Rating Scale.
Results:
Significant differences were observed between groups I and II. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in children's anxiety levels following the implementation of B-AT.
Conclusion:
Bird-assisted therapy was found to be an effective method for reducing anxiety in pediatric dental patients.
Clinical Significance:
Bird-assisted therapy is an effective and reliable method for reducing anxiety levels in children. Bird chirping has a profound effect on the human brain and provides more than an auditory experience. It also improves the visual appeal of the dental office and is interesting, affordable, and relatively easy to implement.
How To Cite This Article:
Dandekar BT, Ahmed A, Agrawal A, et al. Impact of Bird-assisted Therapy in Anxious Pediatric Patients during Their First Dental Visit: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2026;19(8):1060-1066.
