Comparative Evaluation of Effectiveness of Tell-Play-Do, Film Modeling and Use of Smartphone Dental Application in the Management of Child Behavior

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of three different behavioral modification techniques: tell-play-do (TPD), film modeling, and use of smartphone dental app in the management of child behavior. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Seventy-five children aged between 6 years and 9 years who were on their first dental visit were randomly divided into three groups. The study was conducted into two visits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First visit: group I—children watched a film containing various dental procedures performed on a child model followed by oral prophylaxis; group II—TPD techniques were introduced with dental instruments imitating various playing objects followed by oral prophylaxis; group III—children were asked to use mobile dental application followed by oral prophylaxis. Second visit: After 7 days interval, all the children were subjected to class I restorative treatment using glass-ionomer cement. In both visits, the heart rate (HR), facial image scale (FIS) score, and Venham’s pictorial index (VPI) score were evaluated before the intervention, after the intervention of behavior modification technique, and during the dental procedure. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: One-way ANOVA test followed by the post hoc Tukey test was used to compare HR and the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare the FIS and VPI of all three groups. RESULTS: The average HR, FIS, and VPI scores were significantly lower among children who received TPD intervention compared to those who received film modeling intervention and mobile dental application. CONCLUSION: Tell-play-do technique is more effective in reducing children’s fear and anxiety for dental treatment. Tell-play-do can be a functional alternative method to tell-show-do (TSD) and modeling techniques during dental treatment. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kevadia MV, B Sandhyarani, Patil AT, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Effectiveness of Tell-Play-Do, Film Modeling and Use of Smartphone Dental Application in the Management of Child Behavior. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(6):682–687.