Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41353313›Full record

Trial reportBMC oral health2025

Efficacy of scenario-experiential behavior management techniques on dental fear in preschool children with dental caries: a randomized controlled trial.

Yan Wang, Sha Luo, Luping Yang, Xiaodan Wang

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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.

Yan WangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Sha LuoState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041, China. 695751762@qq.com.
Luping YangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Xiaodan WangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Section 3, Renmin South Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.

Funding

the Soft Science Foundation of West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan WCHSIRB-D-2021-235
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildren's dental fear (CDF) has become a major factor compromising the quality of dental treatment. Over time, persistent dental fear may adversely affect both the physical and psychological well-being of pediatric patients.This study aims to assess the effect of scenario-experiential behavior management techniques on dental fear in preschool children with dental caries.

methodsTrial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400090907) registered 15 October 2024. A total of 100 children who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the pediatric stomatology department were selected and randomly assigned to either a control group or an intervention group using a random number table. The control group received standard pediatric dental care, while the intervention group was given a scenarioexperiential plan before treatment. Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) scores, Frankl Rating Scale (FRS) scores, and parental satisfaction levels were compared between the two groups. Descriptive analysis, the independent test, the Pearson's chisquare test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher's exact test were applied.

resultsOne hundred children were recruited in the study. Seven children were lost to follow-up or excluded, leaving 93 children with a mean age of 4.54 ± 0.98 years for final analysis (46 in the intervention group, 47 in the control group). Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in CFSS-DS or FRS scores between the two groups. After the intervention, the intervention group had significantly lower CFSS-DS scores (25.26 ± 6.96) compared to the control group (29.40 ± 10.15) (P = 0.024, t = 2.287, 95%CI = 0.545,7.742). In the intervention group, 34 children (73.91%) reached FRS level 3 and 8 (17.39%) reached level 4. In contrast, the control group had 25 children (53.19%) at level 3 and 6 (12.77%) at level 4. Children in the intervention group showed better treatment cooperation (P = 0.015,Z=-2.444, 95%CI = 0.009,0.012). At the end of the study, 36 (78.30%) parents in the intervention group reported being very satisfied, compared to 31 (66.00%) parents in the control group. Parental satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention group (P = 0.027, χ

conclusionsThe findings of this study indicated scenario-experiential behavior management techniques showed significant advantages in alleviating dental fear in preschool children and improving their compliance during visits. Through one-on-one interactive games, both children and their parents receive clear explanations of dental procedures, which helps improve their overall satisfaction. However, due to some limitations of this study, it would be necessary to conduct randomized controlled trials with large sample size, long follow-up time and more standardized treatment and evaluation methods in the future to provide more accurate and clinically meaningful results.

Indexed as

Behavior TherapyDental AnxietyDental CariesChild, PreschoolDental Care for ChildrenFemaleHumansMaleParentsBehaviour managementDental fearPreschool children

Identifiers

PMID41353313
PMCPMC12797336

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.