This study evaluated whether a visual educational intervention could reduce dental anxiety in children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the dental environment, including the use of personal protective equipment, may have increased anxiety levels in pediatric patients.
A total of 70 children aged 5 to 14 years were randomly assigned to either a study group that received a visual educational introduction to the dental environment or a control group that received standard care. Dental anxiety was assessed using validated scales and pulse rate measurements.
The results showed that children who received the visual educational intervention had lower anxiety levels and reduced physiological stress compared to the control group. The effect was more pronounced in older children, suggesting that age and cognitive development play an important role in the effectiveness of such interventions.
Overall, this simple and non-invasive approach may help reduce dental anxiety in children and improve their experience during dental visits.