Child's anxiety preceding the dental appointment: evaluation through a playful tool as a conditioning feature

• Published in: RGO - Revista Gaúcha de Odontologia 2015-12, Vol.63 (4), p.455-460
• Main Authors: MOURA, Bianca Fiorentin, IMPARATO, José Carlos Pettorossi, PARISOTTO, Thaís Manzano, BENEDETTO, Monique DE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE
• ISSN: 0103-6971; 1981-8637; 1981-8637
• DOI: 10.1590/1981-863720150003000122848

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the emotional reactions before and after the application of a child audiovisual book that illustrates the trigger fear and anxiety points in the dental appointment. Moreover, the educational effect of this book as preconditioning to dental care was also verified. Methods: The study is a prospective pilot study conducted at the University of Western Santa Catarina with a convenience sample of 20 children aged 4-6 years old, with and without previous dental experience. All these children received the book and they were assessed before and after the presentation by responsible attendants. The projective test FIS (Facial Image Scale) was applied in 2 stages on the same day of assistance. Both tests were applied at the reception waiting room: before the child came into contact with the book in the dental clinic room and after the child came into contact with the playful instrument. Anamnesis and clinical examination were performed in the dental office by the dentist to start or continue the treatment. Results: The children were able to answer the projective test with self -analysis. The idealized audiovisual book was successfully constructed and used in the research. The comparison between FIS 1 and FIS 2 made with paired t-test showed significant improvements by comparing the results before the presentation of the playful instrument and after the use of it (p