Parental Perceptions Toward Viewing An Animation About Dental Injections

Abstract

Purpose: To compare parental perceptions before and after viewing an animation demonstrating a dental injection. Also, parental dental fears were compared with perceptions of their child’s dental fears before viewing the animation. Methods: Fifty caregivers of healthy children between 4 to 12 years old seen at a University based pediatric dental clinic were asked to assess their own and their child’s dental fears by completing surveys. Surveys were completed before and after watching an animation about dental injections prior to dental treatment. Caregivers rated their child’s fears in Dental Subscale of the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS). The CFSS-DS consists of 15 questions measuring fear-related items on a Likert scale from 1 to 5, producing a fear score out of 75 points. Caregivers rated their own fears in Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) consisting of 5 questions measuring fear in dental situations, producing a fear score out of 25 points. Results: Parental fears corresponded significantly with perceptions of their child’s dental fears. Linear regression with robust standard errors demonstrated as CFSS scores increased 1 point, pre-intervention MDAS scores increased by 0.85 points (p=.03). There was also a significant decrease in MDAS scores after watching the animation (p=.02). Thus, parental fears decreased post-intervention. No association was found between video helpfulness and anxiety levels and other variables. Conclusions: An animation about dental injections can diminish caregivers’ fear regarding dental procedures. Describing the dental injection through a cartoon is an acceptable behavior guidance tool for children.