REVIEW ARTICLE


https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3070
Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry
Volume 4 | Issue 1 | Year 2021

Contemporary Behavior Guidance Techniques to Outsmart Child’s Anxious Mind

Disha Kapil1, Bhavna G Saraf2, Neha Sheoran3, Gauri Kalra4, Siji Elizabeth

1–3,5Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India
4Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Centre for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Corresponding Author: Disha Kapil, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad, Haryana, India, Phone: +91 9818552236, e-mail: dishakapil.95@gmail.com

How to cite this article Kapil D, Saraf BG, Sheoran N, et al. Contemporary Behavior Guidance Techniques to Outsmart Child’s Anxious Mind. J South Asian Assoc Pediatr Dent 2021;4(1):41–49.

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of interest: None

ABSTRACT

Behavior guidance techniques have been the foundation stone behind success in pediatric dental practice involving both nonpharmacological and pharmacological methods. Modern approaches, attitudes, and expectations of parents and society have devised the modifications in old behavior guidance techniques. However, the applicability of these modalities has not been explored currently. These techniques principally emphasize alleviation of dental anxiety or dentophobia among infants, children, adolescents, and children with special health care needs (SHCN) to provide quality oral health care and to instill a positive dental attitude. This review is intended to provide updates in contemporary behavior guidance techniques such as tell-play-do, animal-assisted therapy, virtual reality, etc., which may provide state-of-art dental management in young children benefitting dental health care providers, parents, and other concerned parties.

Keywords: Child behavior, Dental anxiety, Dental fear and anxiety, Pediatric dentistry..

INTRODUCTION

A child’s dental anxiety and dental phobia stereotypically develop from multiple reasons like a dental drill, air rotor sounds, fear of needles, history of bad dental experience, the smell of dental clinic, and pain (Fig. 1).1 All these situations lead to ignorance and avoidance of dental maintenance, which results in reduced demand for pediatric dental care. “McElroy” in 1895 has beautifully stated that “although operative dentistry may be perfect, the appointment is a failure if a child departs in tears,” stressing the importance of behavior shaping over technical excellence in pediatric dentistry. Avoidance and negligence lead to further complications and give birth to “vicious cycle of Dental Fear” (Fig. 2).2 So, to enhance the dental care, proper planning with the selection of particular techniques and tailoring it according to the needs of an individual parent and skills of the dentist is important. Behavior guidance is a clinical art form of providing safe and effective treatment and skills built on a foundation of science to modify the child’s behavior. A basic understanding of the social, emotional, and cognitive development of the child is very important to perform the specific behavior guidance techniques.3 To maintain compatibility with modern parenting style and child’s attitude with upcoming advanced technologies, the conventional behavior guidance techniques are modified. The focus of these modifications helps to alleviate a child’s dental anxiety and fear, to cultivate a positive dental attitude with the importance of oral health needs, and allowance to perform quality oral health care safely.4

Fig. 1:: Causes of child's dental anxiety

Fig. 2:: Vicious cycle of dental fear

The first dental visit experience plays a vital role in altering the positive dental attitude in children for rendering quality dental treatment in further dental appointments.5 However effective communication development with the child is important owing to this, role plays and pretend play models have been proved to be very effective in engaging a child’s attention. With this idea, a behavior-shaping technique such as tell-show-do has been modified into tell-play-do using concepts of active learning by doing through a playful technique to reduce fear and anxiety in a child.6 Moreover, the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence have been dominating health care, therefore instead a pediatric dentist using conventional methods of behavior guidance may apply this technology in shaping the child’s behavior. All these techniques can be performed in a combination of two or more or individually based upon a benefit vs risk evaluation. As part of the process, parents also play an important role in decision making regarding the treatment and type of technique. With an informed consent (other than communicative guidance), the procedure must be explained to parents with suitable understanding and acceptance.7 Adequate evidence in the scientific literature regarding the knowledge and applicability of recent modifications of behavior guidance techniques in pediatric dentistry is lacking.

Thus, a narrative review is proposed to introduce recent updates in nonpharmacological contemporary behavior guidance techniques that can be efficiently used in the dental office to improve the quality of dental treatment for children.

DATA SOURCE

The main objective of this review article is to collaborate all the advancements and updates in nonpharmacological behavior guidance techniques and provide evidence-based information to support these methods. Data have been collected from five electronic databases: PubMed index, EBSCO, Scopus, the web of science, and Google Scholar from 2010 to 2020 December, using the terms: dental anxiety, contemporary behavior guidance, updates in behavior guidance techniques, nonpharmacological behavior management in pediatric dentistry, animal-assisted dentistry covering the nonpharmacological behavior guidance techniques, original research, and systematic review articles were included for data extraction (Flowchart 1 and Table 1).

Inclusion Criteria

  • Abstract available in English.
  • Recent and updated behavior guidance techniques published from January 2010 onward.
  • Children from 3 to 12 years were included, as the majority of problem occurs during this age group while performing a treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Abstract Other than English
    • Data regarding pharmacological behavior guidance techniques, meta-analysis, and conventional behavior guidance techniques of the past 10 years.
    • Anxiety in children with special healthcare needs and behavior guidance techniques applicable in them.

MODIFIED BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE TECHNIQUES

Tell-Show-Do

This technique of behavior shaping is used by many pediatric dentists; it involves a verbal explanation of what is about to happen in procedure with instruments that will be used (tell), followed by the demonstrations of the procedure by application of visual, tactile, olfactory, and auditory aspects carefully and pleasantly (show), and then (do), initiated by completion of a procedure without deviating from explanation and demonstration.43 Various modifications of the concept of tell-show-do have been introduced recently.

Tell-Play-Do (TPD)

Vishwakarma et al., in 2017, introduced the application of customized dental imitating playing dental objects like a syringe, air rotary, and a cartoon character with mouth wide open in the dental operatory.24 The setup was arranged in the playroom for children to perform dental procedures on it. This made the child to understand the basic dental framework and to become more comfortable with actual dental procedures with a decrease in anxiety levels. He found that TPD was more effective than live modeling on the child’s dental anxiety among the 5–7 years’ age group.

Flowchart 1:: Results of search

Table 1: Evidence-based studies
AuthorsDateStudy designType of techniqueAge (in years)Sample sizeInstrument to measure anxiety and fear
Mifflin, Hackmann, Chorney82012Randomized controlled clinical trialVideo distraction2–1089Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale
Aminabadi et al.92014Randomized controlled clinical trialVirtual reality4–660Wong Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and state anxiety was measured by Faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS)
Singh et al.102014Randomized controlled clinical trialAudio distraction6–1260Venham’s picture test, pulse rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation
Naithani, Viswanath112014Comparative studyAudiovisual distraction (nursery rhymes and cartoons in English or regional language)4–875Venham Picture Test (VPT), Venham Rating of Clinical Anxiety (VRCA), Child Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS), Pulse Rate and Oxygen Saturation
Paryab, Arab52014Randomized clinical trial studyTell-show-do (filmed modeling)4–646Venham and Frankl rating scales, heart rate
Alrshah, Kalla, Abdellatif62014Randomized clinical trial studyLive modeling vs. tell-show-do6–9120The vital sign and facial image scale
Dedeepya et al.122014Randomized controlled clinical trialBiofeedback9–1340Biofeedback system (heart rate (HR), skin conductance (SC), blood volume pulse (BVP), temperature, electromyography (EMG), and electroencephalography), visual analog scale
Nuvvula et al.132015Randomized controlled clinical trialAudiovisual distraction with 3D video glasses7–1090MCDAS(f) (self-report), pulse rate (physiological), behavior (using Wright’s modification of Frankl behavior rating scale and Houpt scale)
Attar, Baghdadi142015Randomized controlled clinical trialiPad vs audiovisual eyeglasses4–842The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (FACES), the North Carolina Behaviour Rating Scale, pulse oximeter
Navit et al.152015Randomized controlled clinical trialAudio distraction aids (MP3 player, headphones and audio MP3 files of popular movie songs, instrumental music, nursery rhymes, and children stories)6–12150The Venham’s Picture Test (VPT), Venham’s Clinical Rating Scale (VCRS), and pulse rate measurement with the help of pulse oximeter
Kaur et al.12015Randomized controlled clinical trialAudio and audiovisual distraction4–8 and 6–860Heart rate—fingertip pulse oximeter, dental subscale of children fear survey schedule—short-scale eight-item questionnaire, clinical anxiety rating scale, and cooperative behavioral rating scale
Sayed et al.162016Randomized controlled clinical trialLive display video output of the DOM (dental operating microscope) displayed on a 72-inch LCD monitor7–990The dental operating microscope, pulse oximeter, Venham’s picture test
Al-Khotani, Bello, Christidis172016Randomized controlled clinical trialAudiovisual distraction7–956The Facial Image Scale (FIS) and the modified Venham’s clinical ratings of anxiety and cooperative behavior scale (MVARS). The vital signs, blood pressure, and pulse
Chaturvedi et al.182016Randomized controlled clinical trialAudiovisual distraction eyeglasses6–1040Wong-Bakers Faces Pain Rating Scale, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and pulse oximeter
Allani, Setty192016Randomized controlled clinical trialDistraction (playing video game on the mobile phone and viewing videos of patient’s favorite cartoon character on mobile phone)4–860Facial image scale through a questionnaire
Yasemin et al.202016Randomized controlled clinical trialDistraction (humanoid robots)4–1033Frankl’s Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS), Facial Image Scale (FIS), pulse oximeter
Babaji et al.212017Randomized controlled trialDifferent colored apron, formal dress, and cartoon character along with conventional syringe and camouflage syringe with a toy-like appearance6–14400Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale faces version
Rank et al.222017Randomized controlled trialDistraction (toys and children stories)4–662Facial Image Scale (FIS) and the Behavior Rating Scale (BRS)
Shah et al.232017Randomized controlled trialSmartphone applications (Kid Dentist App) vs traditional behavior management techniques5–1060Blood pressure, oxygen saturation (SaO2), facial anxiety scale
Vishwakarma et al.242017Randomized controlled trialCustomized tell-play-do (TPD) technique5–798Heart rate, Facial Image Scale (FIS), and Venham six-point index
Habib-Agahi et al.252017Randomized controlled clinical trialTelescopic dental needles4–850Sound, eye, motor (SEM) scale, face version of visual analog scale (VAS)
Gupta, Gupta, Gupta262017Randomized controlled clinical trialRelaxing music distraction 3–760Venham picture test, North Carolina behavior rating scale, and visual analog scale 
Al-Halabi , Bshara, AlNerabieah272018Randomized clinical trialInferior alveolar nerve administrated with using AV eyeglasses ‘VR Box’ and wireless headphone and using tablet device and wireless headphones6–10102Wong–Baker FACES (self-report), pulse rate (physiological) and behavior (using FLACC behavior rating scale (“external evaluator”)
Garrocho-Rangel et al.282018Crossover randomized and controlled clinical trialVideo Eyeglasses/Earphones System (VEES)5–840The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale. Pulse rate and oxygen saturation measurements
Atzori et al.292018Randomized controlled clinical trialVirtual reality distraction in an Oculus Rift VR helmetMean age 13.20 years old5Children self-rated their “worst pain,” “pain unpleasantness,” “time spent thinking about pain,” “presence in VR,” “fun,” and “nausea” levels during the dental procedures, using graphic rating scales
Meshki et al.302018A preliminary double-blind randomized clinical trialInteractive modeling using computer games (smartphone dental simulation game)4–750The Wong-Baker Facial Rating Scale (W-BFRS), heart rate
Niharika et al.312018Randomized single-blind-controlled clinical trialVirtual reality eyeglasses4–840Wong–Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and state anxiety was measured by Faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS). Changes in pulse oximeter and heart rate were recorded in every 10 minutes
Khandelwal et al.322018Randomized controlled study“Tell-show- do” method and audiovisual distraction5–8400Facial image scale (FIS), Venham’s picture test (VPT), blood pressure, pulse rate (PR), and oxygen saturation (SpO2) at different stages of the visit
Shahnavaz et al.332018Open-trial Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy8–1518Visual analog scale (VAS; no fear-strong fear) and the fear scale; Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), diagnostic instrument K-SADS-PL
Berge et al.342018Randomized controlled clinical trialCognitive behavioral therapy10–1667Psychometric self-report scales: Intraoral injection fear scale (IOIF-s), Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), Injection Phobia Scale for children (IS-c), and Mutilation Questionnaire for children (MQ-c) and a behavioral avoidance test (BAT) followed by a questionnaire
Nammalwar, Rangeeth352018Randomized controlled clinical trialAnimal-assisted activity4–1120Questionnaires, using a modified pictorial scale (RMS Pictorial Scale)
Monika et al.362019Randomized controlled clinical trialCamouflaged (CaS) and conventional syringe (CoS)6–880Venham Picture Test (VPT) and Face, Leg, Activity, Cry and Constability (FLACC) Behavioral Pain Assessment Scale
Shetty, Suresh, Hegde372019Randomized controlled clinical trialVirtual reality 5–8120Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale, Wong Baker Faces pain rating scale, Salivary cortisol levels
Bux, Porritt, Marshman382019Randomized controlled clinical trialSelf-Help Cognitive Behavioural Therapy8–1684Children’s Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM)
Radhakrishna et al.392019Randomized controlled clinical trialGroup I: Tell-show-play-doh; Group II: smartphone dentist game; and Group III: Tell-show-do technique4–860Pulse rate, Facial Image Scale (FIS), Frankl’s behavior rating scale, and FLACC (Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability) behavior scales
Khandelwal, Shetty, Rath402019Randomized controlled clinical trialGroup 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.4–1080RMS pictorial scale (RMS-PS), Venham picture test (VPT), pulse rate, oxygen saturation
Vallakatla et al.412020Randomized controlled clinical trialCamouflage sleeves of two colors green and pink, with decorative stickers4–1424Wong-Baker Faces pain scale, Venham picture test (VPT)
Kasimoglu et al.422020Randomized controlled clinical trialTechno-psychological distraction technique (humanoid robot)4–10200Parental Corah Dental Anxiety Scale, Facial Image Scale (FIS), physiological pulse rate. and Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS)

Fig. 3:: Tell-show-play-do

Fig. 4:: Smart phone dentist app

Fig. 5:: Dog therapy

Tell–Show-Play-Doh

The most commonly used method in pediatric dentistry tell-show-do was modified into the tell-show-play-doh technique by Radhakrishna et al. in 2019.39 The battery-operated “Play-Doh Doctor Drill ‘n Fill toy” set was introduced to play and familiarize them with dental setup consisting of suction, air rotor, and air-water syringe. This idea of modification, learning by doing on dental imitation toy with euphemisms, helped the children to alleviate anxiety, constructed a bond for future communication, and aided in improved dental treatment with quality (Fig. 3).

Distraction

Distraction techniques involve the strategies that overload the patient’s limited attention capacity, thus diverting their attention from unpleasant dental treatment44 in which several types of distraction techniques (3D eyeglasses,13 biofeedback,12 children’s stories, and toys,22 dental operating microscope,16 nursery rhymes, live modeling, virtual reality eyeglasses,45 use of camouflaged syringes,21,36,41 and telescopic needles25) were included. They concluded it as a good strategy for the management of anxious and fearful children without any contraindication.

Smart Phone Dentist App

The forthcoming advancements in technology have also entered the dentistry sphere. Patel et al. in 2017 and Meshki et al. in 2018 introduced the Android application dentist games to reduce dental fear and to make comfortable and aware of the dental procedures and idea of the performance of treatment.30,46,47 The dentist application was downloaded days before the treatment on the parent’s Android phone and virtually allowed the children to play the game. These games are approved by a panel of experienced pedodontists for demonstrating the clinical procedure like brushing, oral prophylaxis, restorations, and extractions, etc., giving the clinical effects with sounds categorize in different levels to reach the complete healthy mouth at the end (Fig. 4).

Animal-assisted Activity

Animal-assisted activities (AAA) can be a great adjunct to practice in the dental office with appropriately trained and qualified dogs according to the infection control guidelines and potential health risks. Shiloh et al. in 2003 revealed that petting a live animal over a toy animal reduced self-reported anxiety.48 Moreover, Barker et al. in 200349 verified that interaction with a live animal for just 15 minutes significantly reduced anxiety and fear when compared to the control group of children who read magazines. Comparison of the anxiety level of children between 4 years and 11 years by introducing the therapy dog in the waiting area and operatory area showed a significant reduction in levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine.35 Also, AAAs have been found as a complementary intervention in reducing pain and its related symptoms, anxiety, depression, and loneliness in the medical field. However, more studies are needed to be done in dental offices in India for stronger evidence50 (Fig. 5).

Music Therapy

Audiotaped music connected to headphones works as the distraction technique, which showed a reduction in both biological and psychological anxiety levels. In 2012, Spintge et al. suggested a positive result in the moderation of pain, stress, and anxiety by music therapy.51 Also, in 2014 Singh et al. exhibited a decrease in intraoperative anxiety levels by listening to self-selected music between 6-year and 12-year olds undergoing extraction.10 Whereas on the contrary, Gupta et al. in 2017 concluded that music did not significantly reduce pain, anxiety, or disruptive behavior between 3-year and 7-year olds who required treatment under local analgesia.26 This concluded the indecisive and partial quality of evidence in support of reducing dental anxiety in children with music therapy and the need for more evidence-based study for a more significant result.52,53

Audiovisual Distraction

It has been thought that distraction should be able to involve visual, auditory, and kinesthetic sensory modalities and active participation of the child. The focus of the child is diverted from unpleasantness and to engage them with specific visual and audio effects with imagination. Audiovisual distraction (AVD) was modified from the audio distraction technique and demonstrated a more significant result. Various ways of AVD techniques such as iPads and tablets have been presented with a moderate type of anxiety, which has been shown to alleviate anxiety and comfort children during anesthesia induction, immunization shots, and wart cryotherapy.8,54-56 In 2016, Chaturvedi et al. conducted a study on comparative evaluation with and without AVD eyeglasses and found an iPad-based video delivery system to decrease anxiety before cast room procedures in 6–10-year-old children.18

Television (Chair or Ceiling Mounted)

Khandelwal et al. (2018) concluded that the AVD technique by using cartoons and animated video clips on the laptop was more effective than tell-show-do and more beneficial if both the techniques are combined.32 Ceiling-mounted AVD was found to be the most effective in reducing anxiety followed by chair-mounted AVD as compared to audio distraction40 (Fig. 6).

Active Video Games

According to Allani et al. in 2016, an active video game or cartoon video on a mobile phone involves the visual, mental, and motor participation of the child that would help to reduce anxiety preoperatively.19 However, evidence applying this method in pediatric dentistry has been lacking.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) technology constructs the computer-simulated environment with the use of a head-mounted display (HMD) that covers the eyes with an optical lens and two separate displays. This allows the patient to virtually experience an immersive, simulated visual, and auditory scenario to be in that world by withholding sensory information from the real world.29 Thus, VR has a substantial good effect during dental procedures because it breaks the negative cycles of past bad dental experiences and enhances the positive experiences resulting in overall successful dental treatment.57

Figs 6A and B:: Audiovisual distraction

Humanoid Robots

Yasemin et al. in 2016 introduced a techno-psychological distraction technique by using a humanoid robot—“IRobi.”20,42 Such modification of the conventional distraction technique to distraction by humanoid robots with the multisensory system supporting videos, audio-based dialogues, expression, and gestures with bodily movement showed greater impact in distracting child and enabling them to feel less pain while treatment. This combination of audio, visual, and tactile stimuli with advanced technology where robots are superior to people in contact with children made a comfortable environment for both dentists and children. This novel technique too requires to be conducted and texted in the Asian subcontinent.

Virtual Reality Box

Al-Halabi et al. in 2018 demonstrated that video shown on tablet devices connected to headphones worked best over VR box in alleviating anxiety and pain during administration of inferior alveolar nerve block between 6-year and 10-year olds.27 They also concluded that VR box to be more acceptable in older patients between 8- and 10-year-old children with an additive positive attitude for the next dental visits.

Virtual Reality Eyeglasses

The VR device (Google VR Box and Anti-Tank Virtual Reality 3D Glasses) connected to the cartoon series “Doraemon” was endorsed to children undergoing pulp therapy by Niharika et al. in 2018.31 These VR eyeglasses connected to headphones to provide the sound blocked the visual field of the child completely and made them in that virtual world. This technique is very effective in modulating pain and anxiety by letting the patient get to detach from viewing the dental procedures, instruments, and hearing of sounds of air rotor, making them unaware of what is happening in the environment. A similar study by Custódio et al. in 2020 substantiated it as an effective tool for improving behavior and reducing pain perception during the dental treatment of children.58

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is based on the concept that molds negative thoughts and feelings into parts to think in a positive way to manage current problems and behave accordingly. This medicine is used for psychiatric conditions that provide psychoeducation, techniques to cope up, and cognitive restructuring. Berge et al. (2017) evaluated the effect of five sessions of CBT for 10–16 years olds with intraoral injection phobia. This showed significant positive results in alleviation of dental phobia when compared to the control group.34 Cognitive behavior therapy produces better anxiety reduction than diverse behavioral guidance techniques but requires stronger evidence-based studies in pediatric dentistry for its effective application.59 Bux et al. (2019) conducted the guided self-help CBT resources “Your teeth, you are in control” service with children aged between 8 and 16 years who had self-reported dental anxiety on their initial examination appointment. This evaluation indicated an effective and child-centered approach in reducing child dental anxiety.38 Convenience to perform CBT face to face had become difficult because of limited time availability and long distances to the pediatric dental clinic with a lack of psychologists at the clinic. However, to overcome this loophole the cognitive behavioral therapy is reconstructed to Internet-based CBT for making easy accessibility with advanced technology.33,60

CONCLUSION

As we are heading toward the modern world with the adoption and proliferation of digital communication technology widely in every field, a shifting paradigm has evoked the need to reconstruct the old conventional behavior guidance techniques with miraculous advancements for patient care in the smart digital era.

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