Toys + Dentistry= Winning Smiles- Combining The Magic Of Play With The Importance Of Oral Health For A Lifetime Of Happy Grins

Abstract

Background: Kids deal with many of the same feelings adults do. They get frustrated, excited, nervous, sad, jealous, frightened, worried, angry and embarrassed. However young kids usually don't have the vocabulary to talk about how they are feeling. Instead they communicate their feelings in other ways. Understanding the emotion of an immature child is highly useful to study and select the most appropriate behaviour management strategy during a dental appointment. Dental anxiety may present as fear or worry, but can also make children irritable and angry. One of the main reasons for cancelled dental appointments or lack of interest in dental treatment is avoidance behaviour in a child which in turn generates tooth decay, decreased self-esteem, and poor quality of life.

Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the anxiety levels of pediatric patients visiting the dental OP at a dental college and hospital, Kavalkinaru. This study unveils the novel technique wherein fidget toys were used in the form of CHRIS’S Toys Assisted Therapy to reduce the anxiety in pediatric dental patients.

Results: Results showed that intervention with toys through the CHRIS’S Toys Assisted Therapy significantly reduced the anxiety levels in children.

Conclusion: Thus, CHRIS’S Toys Assisted Therapy is shown to be a promising method of anxiety control, a key to a successful pediatric dental practice.