Clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of using computer games with role playing method in reducing children situational anxiety in dental treatment

Objectives: To determine the effect of play therapy in reducing dental anxiety of children. Study design: A randomized clinical trial with a parallel design carried out on 40 children aged between 6 and 8 years to ascertain the comparative efficacy of role playing with dentist games on tablet in reducing the dental anxiety of children during dental treatment. In this double blind study, Children separately and without linking together are treated and evaluator is blind too. The phase of this study is 2-3. Setting and conduct: Forty children were randomly divided into two groups: Control (Holst technique), role playing (Holst technique and playing with dental games). Holst technique is done in both groups but in case group, computer games are used too and children are done role playing. All the children experienced treatment with or without role playing and the anxiety was assessed using MCDAS test( is for evaluate the anxiety of children in School age and has high reliability and validity ) before and after treatment. Participants including major eligibility criteria: Inclusion criteria are nothing systemic disease and developmental and mental disorders and cooperative children. It was confirmed that they have no previous experience of hospitalization and dental visit. Had caries lesion in one of the primary mandibular molars and needed a pulpotomy with restoration treatment. Also exclusion criteria are Children with Frankel 1, 2. Children that did not play dental games at home and anti-cooperative parent. Intervention: The first group was control and in the intervention group, role playing was done. Main outcome measures: Primary outcome variable was severity of anxiety.

Dental Faculty of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences of Yazd