Clinical Research Directory

Tell-Show-Do for Reducing Dental Anxiety During Local Anesthesia

Sponsor: Bezmialem Vakif University

Summary

Dental anxiety is common in children and may increase during local anesthesia administration. Dental injection anxiety is one of the most frequently reported causes of dental anxiety in pediatric dental patients. Communication-based behavior guidance techniques are commonly used to reduce anxiety during dental procedures. Among these techniques, tell-show-do is widely used in pediatric dentistry and is generally accepted by parents. This completed interventional study evaluated the effect of introducing the syringe and related injection equipment using the tell-show-do technique on dental anxiety during local anesthesia administration in school-aged children. Children aged 5 to 7 years who required dental treatment under buccal infiltration local anesthesia and had no previous dental treatment experience involving injection were enrolled after parental consent was obtained. The study used a controlled within-subject design. Each child attended an adaptation appointment followed by two dental treatment appointments involving local anesthesia. The syringe and related equipment were introduced using the tell-show-do technique at one local anesthesia appointment, whereas the injection equipment was kept out of the child's field of vision at the other local anesthesia appointment. The order of exposure to the tell-show-do intervention differed between sequence groups. Dental anxiety, behavior, and pain-related responses were assessed using validated scales, including the Facial Image Scale, Human Figure Drawing scale, Frankl Behavior Scale, Modified Frankl Behavior Scale, and Sound-Eye-Motor scale. Parent-reported child dental fear and parental dental anxiety were also recorded.

Official title: Effect of the Tell-Show-Do Technique on Dental Anxiety During Local Anesthesia Administration in School-Aged Children

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