Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of a mobile app (Little Lovely Dentist) and the tell-show-do technique in the management of dental anxiety and fear: a randomized controlled trial
10.17245/jdapm.2019.19.6.369
- Author:
Sainath Reddy ELICHERLA
1
;
Sujatha BANDI
;
Sivakumar NUVVULA
;
Rama subbareddy CHALLA
;
Kanamarlapudi Venkata SAIKIRAN
;
Vaka Jeevan PRIYANKA
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. sujathasushant@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
Anxiety;
Behavior Guidance;
Dental Application;
First Dental Visit;
Tell-Show-Do
- MeSH:
Anxiety;
Child;
Dental Anxiety;
Dentists;
Heart Rate;
Humans;
Love;
Mobile Applications;
Smartphone
- From:Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2019;19(6):369-378
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Behavior guidance is a technique used to subdue inappropriate behavior by establishing communication that meets the needs of a child. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a mobile app (Little Lovely Dentist) compared to the tell-show-do (TSD) technique in managing anxious children during their first dental visit.METHODS: Fifty children (30 boys and 20 girls) without any past dental experience, aged from 7 to 11 years, were randomly allocated into either the dental app group or the TSD group. The pre- and post-operative anxiety of children who underwent prophylactic cleaning was assessed both physiologically and subjectively using a heart rate measurement and the RMS pictorial scale, respectively.RESULTS: The intragroup comparison of heart rate and RMS scores for children allocated to the dental app group was statistically significant (P value ≤ 0.001). However, a significant reduction only occurred in the RMS scores, but not the heart rate measurements, in the TSD group. Conversely, there was an increase in heart rates in the TSD group.CONCLUSION: Educating the child prior to a dental procedure using a smartphone application such as Little Lovely Dentist can significantly alleviate the anticipatory anxiety and engage children in dental treatment during their first visit.
