440 - Managing Children’s Dental Anxiety: Therapy Toys as a Distraction Technique

Purpose: The purpose was to determine if therapy toys are an effective distraction technique, during dental visits.

Methods: This study evaluates the behavior management technique of using therapy toys to keep the child occupied and allow for safer delivery of treatment. Patients aged 5-11 years old, with dental anxiety, were selected. The 12 sided fidget cube from VCOSTORE was utilized. The patient is able to have the fidget toy on hand, without having to look at it, since it is a tactile therapy toy. A coin was flipped to determine whether the fidget toy would be utilized at the first or second visit. The two visits include restorative work such as, Class I and II restorations, pulpotomies and stainless steel crowns. The level of anxiety was measured with the Modified Venham’s clinical ratings of anxiety and cooperative behavior scale (MVARS). Patient’s behavior at all visits was recorded, using the Frankl behavior score.

Results: pending

Conclusion: pending