Effects of improved six-hand operation technique on the prevention of dental anxiety in children

Abstract

Objective To observe and assess the advantages of the six-hand operation combined with psychological intervention in preventing dental anxiety in children. Methods A total of 120 children who had been diagnosed with superficial or deep caries of dentin were randomly divided into three groups (six-hand group, four-hand group and control group) with 40 cases in each group. The six-hand operation group: while one nurse cooperated with one doctor, the circuit nurse applied mental nursing and health education to the whole process (the early, middle and late terms) of the treatment for the diseased children. The four-hand operation group: one nurse worked with one doctor and no psychological intervention except simple communication. The control group: one nurse worked with two doctors and the doctors′ did independent operation as the predominant treatment and no psychological intervention. The children in all the three groups received the routine filling treatment. We measured children′s pulse and Corah′s dental anxiety scale at T1 (the children beginning of treatment at dental chair), T2 (5 min after treatment beginning), and T3 (5 min after treatment). Results There was statistical significance in the differences of pulse between the groups at T1 and T2 (P<0.01). The children acquire low anxiety scores when any two groups of three groups compared the scores of Corah′s dental anxiety scale (H=82.57, P<0.05). Conclusions The six-hand operation in combination with psychological intervention is superior to the four-hand operation and the routine operation in preventing dental anxiety in children. Key words: Psychological intervention; Dental anxiety in children; Four-handed operation; Six-handed operation; Pulse; Anxiety