Video-Enhanced Tell-Show-Do for Managing Dental Anxiety in Children

Damascus University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Distraction; Behavior Management

Treatments: Behavioral: Behavioral Treatment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07632547

UDDS-Pedo-03-2026

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is the first of its kind to examine the effect of integrating the real oral environment with a video that supports the expressions used during the Tell-Show-Do technique (such as "we will see the cavity," "the cavity will drink juice to fall asleep," and "we will clean the tooth from the cavity"). This approach aims to enhance the Tell-Show-Do technique, build trust with the child, and reduce anxiety at the different stages of dental treatment in the clinical setting.

Full description

Dental fear and anxiety in children are associated with several visual stimuli, such as the shape of the dental handpiece or saliva ejector, as well as painful procedures like local anaesthesia, which may create a barrier to receiving dental treatment. Many studies have explored various behaviour management techniques to reduce anxiety during treatment; however, few have investigated the effect of using a video simulation of the real oral environment to familiarise children with treatment steps and reinforce the phrases commonly used by the dentist. This study was designed to reassure children by using a video that demonstrates carious lesions and dental instruments, including the mirror, saliva ejector, handpiece, and syringe, and shows how they work inside the mouth in a child-friendly manner.

This research is a randomised controlled clinical trial in which participants were assigned to two groups based on the behaviour management technique used. Anxiety was assessed using three integrated measures: a self-reported anxiety scale, an observer-rated behaviour scale, and physiological indicators including oxygen saturation and heart rate. All measures were recorded before, during, and after treatment to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the intervention's effect on children's anxiety levels.

Enrollment: 80 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 6 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Children aged 4-6 years, with or without previous dental experience.
2. Children with a positive behavior rating according to the Frankl scale.
3. Children with primary molars requiring conservative dental treatment.

Exclusion criteria

1. Children with systemic or mental disorders.
2. Children who received sedative or analgesic medications within the 3 hours prior to the dental visit.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

Tell-Show-Do behavior management technique

Active Comparator group

Description:

Children in this group will receive restorative treatment with following the traditional TSD technique without any visual aids.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Treatment

Behavioral: Behavioral Treatment

Real-Oral Simulation Video-Assisted Tell-Show-Do Technique

Experimental group

Description:

Children in this group will receive restorative treatment with following the enhanced Tell-Show-Do technique with a video simulating the real oral environment

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Treatment

Behavioral: Behavioral Treatment