Evaluation of using pictures and video to enhance children cooperation in dental practice

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. A wide range of behavior guidance techniques are available routinely in the dental office to enhance the cooperation between children and pediatric dentists. However, it is not feasible to achieve the desired cooperation from all child patient.

AIM. To evaluate anxious children’s behavior before and after the dental treatment at their first to dental practice using a pictorial and video-graphic representation of cooperative children managed earlier in the clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. This study included 50 children of 3–13 years old to determine the change in behavior of children at their first visit to dental practice using pictures and videos of cooperative children visited the dental practice in android or iPad. A numeric verbal rating scale determined the children’s dental anxiety before and after the treatment, and the mean differences were evaluated.

RESULTS. Fifty children with mean age of 6.56 ± 2.95 years old (24 males and 26 females) were included in this study. A highly positive correlation was found (p < 0.0001) when the children with negative behavior were shown pictures and videos of cooperative pediatric patients. The mean anxiety score and standard deviation using numeric verbal rating scale before seeing pictures and watching videos were (6.34 ± 3.17), and after seeing pictures and videos were (3.68 ± 2.14), which was statistically significant (p = 0.0001). There was an effective reduction of fear and anxiety, and the results were statistically significant (p-value 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS. Using pictures and videos of a cooperative child would enhance the desired cooperation from children. This technique also helps gain trust and improves the child’s cognition, reducing anxiety.