Evaluation of the mother's anxiety and child's fear in two different age groups in the child's first and second dental visit

The anxiety of the mother influences the child’s behaviour in a dental setting. Objectives: The study aimed at evaluating the mother’s anxiety and a child’s fear of first and second dental visits in two different age groups. Study Design: The cross?sectional study design consisted of a total of 100 mother?child pairs attending Pediatric Dental clinics was included in the study. Group I consisted of 50 mother?child pairs of 6?8 years of age. Group II consisted of another 50 mother?child pairs between 12?15 years of age. Short Form of the Dental Subscale of the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule (DFSS?SF) was administered to the child. Corah’s Dental anxiety scale was administered to the mother. The Tell?Show?Do (TSD) technique was used in all children before the treatment. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS software 21 was used for descriptive and inferential statistics. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used for bivariate correlation between variables in the study. Results: The anxiety level of mothers on both appointment days in both age groups was found to be highly significant. The correlation of maternal anxiety to the gender of the child in both groups was found to be highly significant. Conclusion: The fear of dental treatment was commonly found in children irrespective of gender in both age groups. The TSD technique was found to reduce fear in the subsequent appointment.

Patient Decision Making Process In A Dental Environment

An understanding of patient's decision making process helps a Dentist to present various treatment options in an appropriate and a legitimate way. The dynamics of today's practice is changing, where information search is made through various media. Patients pass through sequential steps comprising of, problem recognition, pre-purchase information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision and post-purchase outcome and reaction before a choice is made. This paper provides an overview of how choices are made scientifically which helps the dentist to sustain an established practice and to successfully deliver the Dental treatment.

Comparative evaluation of formocresol and mineral trioxide aggregate as pulpotomy agents in deciduous teeth.

Aim: To evaluate and compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol as pulpotomy medicaments by clinical and radiographic assessments and to assess the histological features of both pulpotomy medicaments in deciduous teeth. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 100 mandibular deciduous molar teeth requiring pulpotomy treatment. Children between age four and six years were randomly selected and divided into formocresol or MTA group. The patients were recalled after 3, 6, 9, 12 months respectively and evaluated clinically and radiographically. Histological assessment was done on lower deciduous canine teeth, which were undergoing serial extraction for interceptive orthodontic purpose. Pulpotomy was done on four teeth with formocresol and another four teeth with MTA. The teeth were extracted after six months following pulpotomy procedure and histologically evaluated. Two freshly extracted carious teeth were taken as controls. Results: Clinical and radiographic criteria were laid and Chi analysis revealed significant difference in mobility ( P≤0.05), periodontal ligament widening ( P≤0.01 level) and inter - radicular radiolucency ( P≤0.02 level) between two groups at the end of 12 months. Histologically, in MTA group, a layer of new dentine formation with less dentinal tubules at the pulpotomized site was found. In formocresol group, increased inflammatory cells, a zone of atrophy, were noted in radicular portion of pulp. Conclusion: MTA is superior to formocresol clinically, radiographically. Histological analysis showed better reparative ability with hard tissue barrier formation with MTA compared to formocresol.