Evaluation of the effectiveness of Ask-Tell-Ask and Tell-Show-Do in the management of dental fear and anxiety: A randomized control trial

Background: The objective of behaviour guidance is to establish effective communication that aligns with the child’s requirements in order to manage their disruptive behavior.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evalute the effectiveness of the tell show do and ask tell ask techniques in managing anxiety among children during their initial dentist appointment.

Methods: The study comprised  fifty children (28 boy child and 22 girl child) between the ages of 7 to 11 years, in their first dental visit without any prior experience. The children were randomly categorized into two groups: Group 1: Tell Show Do; Group 2: Ask-Tell-Ask. Later, all the children underwent non-invasive treatment procedures like restorations, sealants, and oral prophylaxis. Further, behaviour management techniques were employed based on the allocated group. Finally, anxiety levels for all the children were assessed using the RMS pictorial scale and a heart rate at three different intervals (before, during, and after). The obtained data were entered in Microsoft Excel, and statistical analysis was executed by employing the SPSS software.