225 - Parental Acceptance of Advanced Behavioral Management Techniques on Children in Pediatric Dentistry

Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the parental acceptance of advanced behavioral management techniques (ABMT) involving protective stabilization, moderate sedation, and general anesthesia in pediatric dentistry.

Methods: Parents who attended their child’s dental visit participated in the anonymous 38-question survey generated by a QR code. Most questions utilized a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = Totally Unacceptable to 5 = Totally Acceptable. Differences in mean acceptability were assessed using repeated measures regression to account for respondents rating three modalities under three treatment types (exam, restorative, and emergency extraction). Significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: Acceptability of protective stabilization ranged from 85% (exam) to 99% (extraction) with an average of 4.1 (SE=0.06). Acceptability of sedation ranged from 81% (exam) to 99% (restorative), with an average of 4.1 (SE=0.07). Acceptability of general anesthesia ranged from 68% (exam) to 89% (extraction) with an average of 3.7 (SE=0.08). Acceptability rates were associated with the type of ABMT (P < .0001) and treatment type (P < .0001). Among visit types, ABMT’s were significantly less acceptable for exams than for restoratives (P < .0001) or emergencies (P < .0001). General anesthesia was rated significantly lower than either protective stabilization (P < .0001) or sedation (P < .0001).

Conclusion: Parents showed an overall high acceptance of advanced behavioral management techniques, with significantly greater approval for protective stabilization and sedation than for general anesthesia. Acceptability was lower for routine exams and higher for restorative and emergency visits, indicating that parental approval increased with treatment urgency.

Virginia Commonwealth IRB (HM20032950)