A controlled trial of the impact of exposure to positive images of dentistry on anticipatory dental fear in children.

OBJECTIVES

Dental anxiety is common in children. This study sought to determine the impact of viewing positive images of dentistry prior to a dental appointment on the anticipatory dental anxiety levels of children attending for dental treatment.

METHODS

Controlled trial. Assessment of anxiety and analysis of data were conducted blind to experimental condition. Assessment of anxiety was carried out in the waiting room postintervention but before the patient entered the dental surgery for treatment.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-eight children and young adults attending a dental clinic in South West England.

INTERVENTION

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In both conditions the participant was asked to look at photographs for 2 min in the waiting area prior to their appointment. The intervention consisted of viewing positive images of dentistry and dental treatment, the control condition consisted of dentally neutral images. Positive and neutral images were validated independently by four paediatric dentists. The assessment of anticipatory dental anxiety was made blind to experimental condition and statistical analysis was conducted blind to group membership.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Anticipatory anxiety assessed by the Venham Picture Test.

FINDINGS

A significant difference in anticipatory dental anxiety was found between the two groups (median-positive images = 0, median-neutral images = 3; P < 0.001). Anticipatory anxiety was not correlated to age (rho = 0.04 P > 0.05), there was no difference between male and female participants in their level of anticipatory anxiety (median-males = 0.5, median-females = 1 P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Viewing positive images of dentistry and dentists results in short-term reductions in anticipatory anxiety in children.