Dental Anxiety and Behavior in Young Children Undergoing Different Distraction Techniques

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate anxiety and behavior in groups of children undergoing various distraction techniques during dental treatment in a public clinic. Material and Methods: The research was a randomized study with a systematic convenience sample consisting of 62 children with 4-6 years (5.18±0.77) in both genders; they were divided in four groups (G1 - control group and three experimental Groups G2 - mirror and conversation, G3 - toys and G4 - children's stories) and evaluated in the first 2 visits to the dentist. Age and previous experience were also evaluated. The Facial Image Scale (FIS) and the Behavior Rating Scale (BRS) were applied, the data was analyzed using the Chi-square test with a significance level of p < 0.05 and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: In comparison to the studied variables (anxiety and behavior), the distraction technique during dental care could not reduce anxiety and improve the behavior in all groups in the first visit, but the group receiving the distraction technique with a hand mirror reached the best results in behavior in the second visit (p=0.022; Raj-2.68). There is no influence on anxiety among children with or without previous experience (p = 0.603), but the age of 4 years showed higher levels of anxiety (p=0.039). Conclusion: Only the distraction technique with the mirror was able to reduce anxiety and improve behavior in the second visit.