Video-Enhanced Tell-Show-Do for Managing Dental Anxiety in Children
Reinforcing the Tell-Show-Do Technique With a Simulated Real-mouth Video to Manage Dental Anxiety in Children During Dental Treatment (A Randomized Controlled Trial)
Damascus University
80 participants
Apr 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This study is the first of its kind to examine the effect of integrating the real oral environment with a video that supports the expressions used during the Tell-Show-Do technique (such as "we will see the cavity," "the cavity will drink juice to fall asleep," and "we will clean the tooth from the cavity"). This approach aims to enhance the Tell-Show-Do technique, build trust with the child, and reduce anxiety at the different stages of dental treatment in the clinical setting.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Children aged 4-6 years, with or without previous dental experience.
- Children with a positive behavior rating according to the Frankl scale.
- Children with primary molars requiring conservative dental treatment.
Exclusion Criteria2
- Children with systemic or mental disorders.
- Children who received sedative or analgesic medications within the 3 hours prior to the dental visit.
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Interventions
This group received treatment guided by the Tell-Show-Do (TSD) method. Each step was explained through simple analogies-referring to local anesthesia as 'sleepy juice' and the rubber dam as a 'trap' for the 'tooth worm.' After the explanation and instrument demonstration, restorative treatment was carried out. The protocol excluded the use of any audiovisual aids. All procedures involved conservative restoration of the mandibular primary molars
Children in this group were managed using a video-assisted Tell-Show-Do (VATSD) approach incorporating real-oral simulation. Each procedural step was preceded by a specific segment of a pre-recorded video tailored to the upcoming task. The video featured a simulated intraoral environment where dental caries was personified by an animated 'tooth worm' to explain decay and its removal. Consistent with conventional TSD, the video integrated child-friendly analogies: local anesthesia was introduced as 'sleepy juice'-depicting the 'tooth worm' falling asleep-and the rubber dam was shown as a barrier to prevent its escape. These segments sequentially covered examination, anesthesia, rubber dam placement, and cavity preparation. Each viewing was followed by a standardized verbal explanation before performing the clinical procedure. All participants underwent conservative restorative treatment of the mandibular primary molars
Locations(1)
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NCT07632547