Author/Authors :
Owusu, Gifty Benson North West Armed Forces Hospital - Department of Dental Services, KSA , Al Amri, Mariam North West Armed Forces Hospital - Department of Dental Services, KSA , Dufresne, Kesnel North West Armed Forces Hospital - Department of Dental Services, KSA , Stewart, Barry L. North West Armed Forces Hospital - Department of Dental Services, KSA , Sabbah, Wael North West Armed Forces Hospital - Department of Dental Services, KSA
Abstract :
There are many behavior management techniques used in pediatric dentistry from tell-show-do, voice control, physical restraint, to oral sedation and general anesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of Saudi parents toward behavior management techniques used when treating 4-9 year old children in a pediatric dental clinic in the Northwest Armed Forces Hospitals. A total of 344 children were selected to participate in the study. Four consultant pediatric dentists were trained in a calibration program, to ensure a uniform approach with behavior management techniques. The patients were examined, and treated starting with ‘tell-show-do , followed by techniques requiring increasing firmness when necessary. Parents completed a questionnaire on relevant socio-economic and behavioral factors. Most parents (49.3%) preferred ‘tell-show-do , some (8.5%) voice control, while only (3.8%), permitted the dentist to use physical restraint. A total of 33.2% preferred general anesthesia rather than restraint, and 13.4% left the decision to the dentist. Parents who would not tolerate any form of restraint to be use on their children under any circumstances constituted 3.3%. These results indicated that most parents preferred the more passive techniques to physical restraint, and participating dentists showed strong sensitivity to parental preferences by utilizing mainly tell-show-do and voice control.
