DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2016.v03i06.002

Pages: 160-163

Abstract: Tell–show–do is the most popular technique for managing children’s behaviour in dentists’ offices and live modelling is used less frequently. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of these 2 techniques based on children’s heart rates during dental treatments, heart rate being the simplest biological parameter to measure and an increase in heart rate being the most common physiologic indicator of anxiety and fear. For this randomized, controlled, parallel-group single-centre clinical trial, children 5 to 12 years of age, were divided into 3 groups: those in groups A and B were prepared for dental treatment by means of live modelling, the parents serving as the model for children in group A and the siblings as the model for children in group B. The children in group C were prepared by a paediatric dentist using the tell–show–do method. Each child’s heart rate was monitored during treatment, which consisted of an oral examination and cleaning/simple restorations. A total of 45 children met the study criteria and participated in the study. Children who received live modelling with the parents as model had lower heart rates than those who received live modelling with the siblings as model and those who were prepared by the tell–show–do method (p < 0.05). The model used for live modelling with the parents and the child’s age were determining factors in the results obtained. Live modelling is a technique worth practising in paediatric dentistry