Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40604606›Full record

Trial reportBMC pediatrics2025

Puppet play therapy in emergency pediatric dental clinic. A randomized clinical trial.

Layla N Khogeer, Heba Jafar Sabbagh, Osama M Felemban, Najat M Farsi

3 registry-linked trialsAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06326307 nacompletednot on this map

Effectiveness of Puppet Modeling Technique on Children Undergoing Stressful Dental Procedures' Randomized Clinical Crossover Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorKing Abdulaziz UniversityRan2023 to 2023Enrolled41ConditionsBehavioral Guidance in Pediatric DentistryArmsTell Show and Do Guidance, Puppet Guidance
NCT07448714 nacompletednot on this map

Animal Assisted Therapy as a Behavioral Management Technique During Dental Treatment in Pediatric Patients

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Puerto RicoRan2023 to 2024Enrolled20ConditionsDental Fear and Anxiety, Animal Assisted Therapy, Dental TreatmentArmsanimal assisted therapy
NCT07736170 nacompletednot on this map

Effect of Puppet-Aided Tell-Show-Do During Dental Emergency Visit on Dental Anxiety and Behavior of Children in a Subsequent Visit: A Randomized Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorKing Abdulaziz UniversityRan2024 to 2025Enrolled66ConditionsDental Anxiety in ChildrenArmsPuppet Play Therapy, Tell-Show-Do (TSD)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Layla N KhogeerPediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Heba Jafar SabbaghPediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. hsabbagh@kau.edu.sa.ORCID 0000-0002-9788-0379
Osama M FelembanPediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Najat M FarsiPediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDental fear and anxiety can significantly hinder the treatment of children. The aim of this research is to compare the effect of puppet play therapy (PPT) and tell-show-do (TSD) behavior guidance technique on child's behavior and anxiety in emergency dental clinics during local anesthesia (LA) administration.

methodsThis randomized clinical trial included 50 children aged 3-6 years in need of emergency dental treatment under LA. The subjects were randomized into 2 equal groups: the PPT group, where behavior management was provided using PPT, and the TSD group where TSD was used as the behavior guidance technique. Dental anxiety levels were evaluated using the Facial Index Scale (FIS) and Venham Anxiety Rating Scale. Pulse rates were measured before, during and after anesthesia administration. Patient behavior was also scored using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale and Venham Behavior Rating Scale. The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale was used to assess pain.

resultsThe mean heart rates were lower for patients who received PPT (94.12 ± 15.71; 106.88 ± 12.67 and 103.16 ± 13.6) compared to TSD (103.4 ± 20.94, 112.5 ± 23.17 and 111.48 ± 25.07) before, during and after the LA, respectively. Anxiety levels measured by FIS were significantly reduced using PPT (p < 0.001) compared to TSD.

conclusionsThis study presents a behavior modification method demonstrating efficacy in reducing anxiety among young children who had no previous dental exposure and underwent immediate invasive dental procedures, utilizing puppet play therapy.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov with registration number NCT06326307 on March 21, 2024.

Indexed as

Dental AnxietyDental Care for ChildrenPlay and PlaythingsPlay TherapyAnesthesia, DentalAnesthesia, LocalChildChild BehaviorChild, PreschoolDental ClinicsFemaleHeart RateHumansMaleAnxietyBehaviorChildrenDental careEmergencyPediatricPlay therapyPuppet

Identifiers

PMID40604606
PMCPMC12220161

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.