Relaxation effect of an audiovisual system on dental patients. Part 2. Palus-amplitude

Effectiveness of Distraction Techniques in Managing Pediatric Dental Patients

Aim

Children having dental anxiety usually hesitate to seek dental care which can result in poor oral health and may lead to expensive and complex dental treatment in the future. The aim of the present study is to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of various distraction techniques in managing pediatric dental patients.

Materials and methods

Eighty healthy children selected for the study were randomly divided into 4 groups with 20 children in each group. Group I was termed as the control group; in group II, the audio distraction technique was used. Group III received audio–video distraction (AVD) by means of a chair-mounted audio–video device and group IV received AVD by means of a ceiling-mounted television. Each child had four dental visits. Child's anxiety in each visit was assessed using four parameters: RMS pictorial scale (RMS-PS), Venham picture test (VPT), pulse rate, and oxygen saturation.

Results

Ceiling-mounted AVD was found to be the most effective in reducing the anxiety followed by chair-mounted AVD. Audio distraction was found to be the least effective but was better than the control group.

Conclusion

The AVD technique is simple, passive, and noninvasive means of behavior management and can be used alternatively in managing anxious pediatric dental patients.

How to cite this article

Khandelwal M, Shetty RM, et al. Effectiveness of Distraction Techniques in Managing Pediatric Dental Patients. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(1):18–24.

Effects of audiovisual distraction during dental prophylaxis

BACKGROUND

Fear and anxiety often inhibit patients from seeking dental care. Audiovisual, or A/V, distraction techniques have been shown to reduce patient anxiety and pain during dental procedures. The authors investigated the effects of a virtual image A/V eyeglass system on patients' anxiety and pain.

METHODS

Twenty-seven routine dental prophylaxis patients participated and completed the Dental Fear Survey and the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III before treatment. In random order, the clinician scaled and polished two quadrants in subjects while they watched and listened to a standard video using the A/V eyeglasses and two quadrants while they did not. A posttreatment questionnaire was administered to both the patient and the clinician.

RESULTS

Subjects reported less anxiety and discomfort when using the A/V eyeglass system than when they did not. Most subjects preferred to use the A/V equipment rather than receive traditional treatment. The clinician experienced no significant technical interference during the use of the A/V device. The use of the A/V eyeglasses led to decreased treatment time in the first one-half of the procedure. The system appeared to lead to some decreases in the physiological parameters over the course of treatment, with the highest systolic blood pressure occurring after the condition with no use of A/V eyeglasses.

CONCLUSIONS

A virtual image A/V system is beneficial in the reduction of fear, pain and procedure time for most dental prophylaxis patients.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Use of screening questionnaires may be helpful for identifying anxious patients. An A/V device may be beneficial to the clinician and the mildly or moderately anxious patient.