RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of the usage of hand signals during a dental procedure among students in a dental institute. METHODS: 268 students and their allotted patients from a dental institute were taught about hand signals (DentiSign) that can be used for communication during dental procedures. During the first dental visit, a pretested questionnaire was provided to students, before and after the treatment procedure, to assess the change in fear and anxiety in their patients. This protocol was followed for the second consecutive visit. The questionnaires were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. McNemar's test was used to analyze the responses for the questionnaire before and after treatment during the first and second visits. RESULTS: By the end of the first visit, 45.75% students felt that using hand signals can make patients feel comfortable and 35.68% students felt that the practitioner will be able to understand patients' fear and anxiety, which were statistically significant. By the end of second visit, the response increased significantly to 92.17% and 94.66%, respectively. A reduction in treatment time was also perceived by the students but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Use of hand signals during dental treatment can be an option in reducing anxiety and fear for the patients. They can also help in effective communication during the treatment procedure and may help in reducing treatment time.