Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42353982›Full record

ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Effectiveness of Audiovisual Distraction During Dental Treatment Under Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Conscious Sedation in Paediatric Patients: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.

Tina Gentile, Sonia Vanacore, Martina Caputo, Francesco Pio Litta, Annelyse Martine Garret-Bernardin, Beatrice Basile, Simone Piga, Alessandra Putrino, Angela Galeotti

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Tina GentileDentistry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale Ferdinando Baldelli 41, 00146 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6605-849X
Sonia VanacoreDentistry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale Ferdinando Baldelli 41, 00146 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0009-0007-6271-9220
Martina CaputoDentistry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale Ferdinando Baldelli 41, 00146 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8305-2241
Francesco Pio LittaDentistry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale Ferdinando Baldelli 41, 00146 Rome, Italy.
Annelyse Martine Garret-BernardinDentistry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale Ferdinando Baldelli 41, 00146 Rome, Italy.
Beatrice BasileDepartment of Dental Science, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Cracovia 50, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Simone PigaUnit of Clinical Epidemiology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
Alessandra PutrinoDentistry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale Ferdinando Baldelli 41, 00146 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5278-145X
Angela GaleottiDentistry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale Ferdinando Baldelli 41, 00146 Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesDental anxiety represents a major challenge in paediatric dentistry and is a frequent cause of non-cooperative behaviour during dental treatment. Nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation conscious sedation is widely used to reduce anxiety in children, while audiovisual distraction is a non-pharmacological behavioural technique aimed at diverting attention from stressful stimuli. Evidence regarding the combined effect of these two approaches during dental treatment is still limited.

methodsThis randomized crossover clinical trial included 25 paediatric patients aged 4-7 years with dental anxiety and previous failed attempts at conventional dental treatment. Each child underwent two dental treatment sessions under nitrous oxide/oxygen conscious sedation, one with and one without audiovisual distraction. Anxiety and behaviour were assessed using the Modified Venham Scale and the Facial Image Scale (FIS). Vital parameters were recorded before, during, and after sedation.

resultsA significant reduction in heart rate over time was observed in both groups (

conclusionsAlthough behavioural scores did not differ significantly, audiovisual distraction contributed to greater physiological stability, particularly in terms of heart rate control. This no-pharmacological approach may complement the pharmacological effects of nitrous oxide sedation by enhancing the overall sense of relaxation and comfort during dental care.

Indexed as

audiovisual distractionconscious sedationdental anxietypediatric dentistry

Identifiers

PMID42353982
PMCPMC13298431

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.