Assessment of Dental Anxiety Using Doll Placement Test in a Miniature Dental Setup among 3-7-year-old Children with Verbal Communication Challenges Compared to Children with Verbal Communication Skills.

Background: Effective communication builds trust between the child, dentist, and parents, helping reduce fear and anxiety during dental treatment. Children with limited verbal communication often experience greater anxiety due to difficulty expressing themselves and understanding instructions. Aim: The study was conducted to assess and compare the dental anxiety levels of children with limited verbal communication skills to those with normal verbal communication skills using a Doll Placement Test in a miniature dental setup. The study also investigates correlating the measured anxiety levels with the children's behavior in the dental operatory. Materials and methods: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 82 children were selected and divided into two groups. Group A ( Results: In Group B, 82.9% preferred a doll position, indicating a need for parental presence ( Conclusion: The Doll Placement Test in a miniature dental setup is a simple, effective tool for predicting children's dental anxiety regardless of communication ability. Children with limited verbal skills showed higher anxiety and a stronger need for parental presence, significantly correlating with their observed behavior.