Prevalence and Parental Attitude Toward Nitrous-Oxide and Papoose-Board Use in Two Dental Referral Centers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Parental Acceptance of Moderate Sedation and Associated Techniques for Behavior Management in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance of moderate sedation (MS) as a behavior guidance technique (BGT) method among Saudi parents, and also assess their acceptance of other BGTs, including parental separation, papoose board (PB), and nitrous oxide (N2O), used in conjunction with MS.

Patients and Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dental University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It involved Saudi parents of children aged 3-5 years undergoing dental treatment with MS, alongside additional BGTs such as parental separation, PB, and N2O. Parents completed a questionnaire with demographic details and a post-treatment acceptance survey evaluating their satisfaction with the MS. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic information and parental acceptance. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests analyzed the association between parental acceptance and background characteristics.

Results

A total of 85 parents were included in the study. Among these parents, 77 (90.59%) accepted MS, reporting minimal distress during dental treatment, and 78 (91.76%) would choose MS again. The PB received strong support from 79 (92.94%) of parents, with 83 (97.65%) finding it useful for child protection. However, 43 (50.59%) of parents felt uncomfortable with parental separation during therapy.

Conclusion

Over 90% of Saudi parents showed high acceptance of MS and PB as BGTs. The study also revealed that 50.59% of parents were uncomfortable with being separated from their children during treatment. These findings highlight the need for strategies that can accommodate family involvement in pediatric dentistry, ultimately improving parental satisfaction.

Barriers to Using Advanced and Pharmacological Behavior Management Techniques: A Survey of Pediatric Dentists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Aim

In this study, we assessed the use of advanced pharmacological behavior management techniques (BMTs) among pediatric dentists in Saudi Arabia and the barriers to their clinical application.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study used a self-administered electronic survey that targeted members of the Saudi Society of Pediatric Dentistry. The questionnaire included questions on five techniques of advanced and pharmacological behavior management recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Descriptive statistics, frequency, Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were used to present the outcomes and independent variables.

Results

A total of 57 pediatric dentists completed the survey. Nitrous oxide (N2O) sedation, general anesthesia (GA), and protective stabilization were used regularly by pediatric dentists in 70.2%, 68.4%, and 56.1% of the participants, respectively. A few participants reported using oral (14.0%) or intravenous (IV) sedation (10.5%) regularly. The most common barriers to using these techniques were either dentists' discomfort or the non-availability of the equipment/drugs.

Conclusions

The most common method used by pediatric dentists was N2O inhalation sedation, followed by GA and protective stabilization. The participants' use of pharmacological BMTs, including IV and oral sedation, was relatively low.

Preference for Comprehensive Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia among Parents with Previous Experience: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aims to assess whether parents of children who previously received comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) would prefer comprehensive dental treatment under GA over regular dental care if any of their other children required comprehensive dental treatment. In this cross-sectional study, parents of children who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed by a trained pediatric resident about parental-related factors as well as their satisfaction with their previous GA experience. Also, the factors related to the previously treated child were obtained from dental records. Statistical analysis was carried out, and the p value was set to 0.05. A total number of 306 parents were included. Although most parents, 293 (95.8%), showed satisfaction with the previous GA, 170 (58%) of the satisfied parents preferred regular care. Parents of children who were previously treated under GA for medical-related reasons (p = 0.018), fathers working in a governmental sector (p = 0.021), and families with low-average monthly income (p = 0.017) significantly preferred regular care. In conclusion, most parents were satisfied with the previous GA experience. Family income, fathers' occupation, and medical-related factors can influence parental preference for comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia if any of their other children require comprehensive dental treatment.

Behavioral Modification of an Uncooperative Preschool Child with Sickle Beta Thalassemia Disease in a Dental Clinic: A Case Report

Background:

Treating medically compromised pediatric patients with dental anxiety can be challenging, especially when general anesthesia and sedation are not an option. This paper reported a case of an uncooperative preschool child who was medically compromised and presented in the dental clinic with Severe-Early-Childhood-Caries (S-ECC). The dental behavior management of such a case was not previously discussed in the literature.

Case Presentation:

This paper explains the dental management and behavior modification carried out for a 5-year-old male child who was diagnosed with sickle beta thalassemia disease (Sβ-thalassemia), S-ECC, had a negative dental behavior, and was successfully and efficiently treated under a dental setting. The patient presented with his mother, who was concerned about her child’s decayed teeth and sought dental treatment as soon as possible to avoid any risk of infection. Dental examination revealed multiple dental caries and high caries risk. The patient’s behavior can be classified as definitely negative with high level of anxiety. The mother showed permissive parenting and the father exerted an authoritative parenting style. Dental management focused mainly on child behavioral modification via utilizing the difference between the parenting styles. Middle way of treatment, the child showed behavioral improvement, which was progressing toward the end of the treatment. Teeth were successfully restored with composite and metal crowns.

Conclusion:

With several behavior management techniques and understanding the parenting styles, the patient's behavior improved, and the treatment plan was successfully used on a dental chair without the need for more advanced management under general anesthesia.