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

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.

Conditions

• School Age Children
• Dental Fear

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Early Tell-Show-Do Dental Injector Demonstration Sequence

This behavioral intervention sequence consisted of introducing the dental injector and related equipment using the tell-show-do technique before local anesthesia administration at the first injection-related visit. At the subsequent injection-related visit, the dental injector and related equipment were kept outside the child's field of vision before and during local anesthesia administration.

BEHAVIORAL

Delayed Tell-Show-Do Dental Injector Demonstration Sequence

This behavioral intervention sequence consisted of local anesthesia administration with the dental injector and related equipment kept outside the child's field of vision at the first injection-related visit. At the subsequent injection-related visit, the dental injector and related equipment were introduced using the tell-show-do technique before local anesthesia administration.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bezmialem Vakif University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mustafa Sarp Kaya, DDS, PhD · Bezmialem Vakif University Department of Pediatric Dentistry

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

5 Years

Max Age

7 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-09-01

Primary Completion

2022-11-28

Completion

2023-05-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations