Nonpharmacological Behavior Guidance for Children During Preventive Dental Visits: A Systematic Review-Part 1.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of nonpharmacological behavior guidance interventions used for a child undergoing preventive dental visits.

METHODS: Databases: Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), Embase, and Cochrane Library, were searched from 1946 to February 2022, for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing effectiveness of basic and advanced nonpharmacological techniques rendered during a pre- ventive visit including examination, prophylaxis, fluoride application and radiographs. Workgroup (WG) identified moderate-to-high quality system- atic reviews (SRs) published on hypnosis, audiovisual distraction, and parental presence/ absence; and decided to exclude these interventions from current SR to avoid duplication. The primary outcome measures for the studied interventions included reduction in anxiety, fear, pain, and improve- ment in cooperative behavior. Eight authors determined the included RCTs, performed data extraction, and assessed the risk of bias. Standardized Mean Difference calculation and assignment of quality of evidence by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach were done.

RESULTS: Fifteen articles qualified for analysis from 219 screened articles. WG found studies evaluating effectiveness of pre- visit preparation and in-office strategies rendered pre- or during treatment such as positive imagery, communication, modeling, tell-show-do, magic tricks, mobile applications, positive reinforcement, and sensory adapted dental environment. The certainty of evidence ranged from Very low to Moderate and the magnitude of effect varied from trivial to a large change in the desired outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Most basic nonpharmacological behavior guidance techniques showed trivial to small reduction in self-reported anxiety and/or improvement in behavior, with mobile application and modeling showing large effects in reduction of anxiety based on some rating scales. Systematic Review Registration Number: PROSPERO: CRD42022314723.