Behavior Management Techniques Research Articles

Trends in behavioral management techniques for dental treatment of patients with autism spectrum disorder: a 10-year retrospective analysis.

Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present challenges in dental treatment cooperation owing to deficits in communication skills and social interaction. Behavioral guidance, sedation, and general anesthesia may be employed to ensure the quality of dental care for individuals with ASD. This study aimed to examine the trends in dental treatment for patients with ASD who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Dankook University Jukjeon Dental Hospital, an oral health center for the disabled in the Gyeonggi region, over the past 10 years. This study utilized the order communication system to gather data on sex, age, cooperation level, number of quadrants treated, and administration of sedation or general anesthesia for patients with ASD who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Dankook University Jukjeon Dental Hospital between January 2013 and December 2022. The total number of patients with ASD increased annually, possibly due to an increase in ASD prevalence and the hospital's designation as a center for disabled oral health. General anesthesia was predominant before 2017, with a shift towards N2O-O2 sedation. The most common age group for sedation or general anesthesia was 6-9 years, with a higher prevalence in males than in females. Notably, N2O-O2 and midazolam sedation resulted in better cooperation and fewer treated teeth than general anesthesia. This study highlights the evolving trends in dental treatment for individuals with ASD, indicating a shift towards outpatient methods, particularly N2O-O2 sedation. The sex distribution aligns with national statistics, emphasizing a higher prevalence of ASD in males than in females. These findings underscore the need for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines for optimal dental care strategies tailored to the unique needs of individuals with ASD.

Children's experiences during their first dental visit: A qualitative study.

While the child's first dental visit can shape his/her attitude towards further treatments, little consideration has been given to exploring this experience from the child's perspective. Therefore, the aim of the study was to delineate the experiences of the first dental visit of children based on self-written stories in their own words. Qualitative study conducted as part of the oral health promoting school program in Isfahan city, Iran. Data collection was based on the responses to a question included in the programme's printed educational content. Schoolchildren were asked to explain about their experiences of their first dental visit in a story. Two researchers read the stories separately and identified concepts and themes. In a discussion panel gained consensus about the main themes. Then the researchers integrated and grouped together similar themes to new categories. Categories originating in the data provided insights into and explanations of factors that might influence the schoolchildren's experience in the dental office. Sampling continued until saturation, when no new codes appeared in the data. The childrens' stories were imported in the MAXQD software and analyzed to retrieve the main categories and themes. Factors that influenced experiences appeared to be idiosyncratic, but could be classified into three categories: the person accompanying the child, child and dentist-related factors. Two sub-categories of the person accompanying the child were the role of person in their treatment and the types of persons accompanying them. Dentist-related factors included three more sub-themes of applied behavioral management techniques, their role in oral health education, and organization of the office environment. The three sub-themes of children's related factors were experiencing fear, remembering the details of their experience, and type of care received. Although the method was limited to the qualitative written stories of children and there was no opportunity to explore more and consider the detailed opinions by face-to-face interviews, some noticeable elements were mentioned by children. The person accompanying the child, child and dentist-related factors were three main categories obtained from the data.

Implementation and Outcomes of Outdoor Science Education in an Urban Setting on Primary and Intermediate Level Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

The term nature deficit disorder describes the “human costs of alienation from nature” (Louv, 2019). While not meant to be a medical diagnosis, Louv argues that the condition has, “profound implications, not only for the health of future generations but for the health of the earth itself” (Louv, 2008). Children most at risk are those who live or go to school in an urban setting, as well as students diagnosed with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). Students diagnosed with EBD are often kept indoors as their teachers and caretakers are frequently trained in the indoor use only of behavior management techniques (Riden et al., 2022). This means that during professional development training, any that pertain to behavior management techniques, procedure, or protocol are routinely taught inside of a classroom, conference room, or recently home office, using an indoor scenario (classroom, auditorium, cafeteria, etc.) as an example of when and how to use these behavior management tools. Outdoor professional development, equipping students with natural tools that can help improve not only their physical but also their mental health, as well as connecting students with nature in a way that teaches them to advocate for the health of the earth, thus becoming citizen stewards are all themes that are part of the massive, currently dysfunctional system that is outdoor education in schools. This study shows that when students are encouraged to interact with nature on their own terms on-task behaviors and motivation increase. Students also retained lesson information and asked follow-up questions after the lesson when taught outside using hands-on activities.

Amelioration: An Innovative Approach to Behavior Management Based on Cognitive Process

ABSTRACT Aim: The study aimed to determine the applicability of psychological traits identified by Piaget sixty years ago to children in the current generation and to utilize these traits clinically for behavior modification. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 participants aged 4–7, divided into four groups. Three tests were administered to evaluate the manifestation of preoperational features. Based on the most noticeable aspect of cognitive development, tailored behavior management strategies were applied to help improve cooperation among the children. The study utilized Frankl’s behavior rating scale both before and after the intervention, and statistical analysis was performed to assess the outcomes. Results: Contrary to Piaget’s findings, the study revealed that 94% of children displayed egocentrism and centration at the age of four, with these traits gradually decreasing from four to seven years old. Moreover, better patient cooperation was observed when cognitive-based behavior management techniques were employed clinically, and the improvement was statistically significant at P < 0.001. Conclusion: The study concluded that the Amelioration, a cognitive feature-based behavior modification technique, represented the most effective way to elicit cooperative responses from children. This technique can be considered a novel and pioneering behavior management strategy for enhancing patient cooperation.

Effectiveness of Preoperative Alpha Wave Entrainment in Pediatric Dental Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Pediatric dental anxiety is a significant barrier to effective dental care, necessitating non-pharmacological interventions. Alpha wave entrainment has shown promise in adult studies for reducing procedural anxiety and pain perception, but its effectiveness in pediatric dental settings remains underexplored. Objective This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative alpha wave entrainment in alleviating anxiety in gender-specific participants to the interventions. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 252 pediatric patients (aged 7-12) with cooperative dispositions. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving alpha wave entrainment or a control group receiving conventional behavior management techniques. The experimental interventioninvolved 10-minute sessions of binaural beats with visualstimulation designed to induce alpha-wave synchronization. Anxiety levels were assessed using physiological measures (heart rate and blood pressure), both pre- and post-interventions. Results The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in heart rate and systolic blood pressure post-intervention compared to the control group. These changes indicate a decrease in anxiety levels, with no significant gender differences in the response to the intervention. Conclusion Alpha wave entrainment effectively reduces dental anxiety in pediatric patients, with similar efficacy observed across genders. This study supports the incorporation of alpha wave entrainment into pediatric dental practices as a viable alternative to traditional anxiety management techniques.

Acceptability of dental students and professionals concerning child behaviour management techniques: Systematic review.

During child dental treatment, different behavior management techniques (BMTs) are applied and it is important to understand the possible discomfort in the operator. The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the acceptability of dental students and professionals concerning BMTs applied with paediatric dentistry patients. A systematic search was conducted, following the PEOS strategy: Population (P) - dental students/professionals (S); Exposure (E) - BMTs preconized by the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, Outcome (O) - proportion of BMT acceptance; and Study design (S) - observational studies based on data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, BVS (Lilacs/BBO), Cochrane, and Open Grey databases up to September 2021. The eligible studies were submitted to data extraction and to the evaluation of methodological quality, using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by GRADE. The search retrieved 710 articles; a total of 21 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were used for qualitative analysis. Among the undergraduate students and dentists, the most accepted techniques were tell-show-do and positive reinforcement, while paediatric dentists preferred the tell-show-do technique and dental professionals with graduate degrees preferred sedation using nitrous oxide and positive reinforcement. The least accepted technique was protective stabilization. Seven students presented a low risk for bias, while 14 presented a high risk. The certainty of evidence was classified as very low. Although the basis of available certainty of evidence is scarce and with a considerable risk for bias, it is still possible to conclude that the more accepted techniques were based on communication.

Full Mouth Rehabilitation in visually impaired children with modified behaviour management techniques: A Case Series

Full Mouth Rehabilitation in visually impaired children with modified behaviour management techniques: A Case Series

To Restrain or Refrain: Determination of Parental Attitude towards the Child’s Experience with Protective Stabilization

ABSTRACT Background: To overcome disruptive behavior of children, pediatric dentists rely on various behavior management techniques. When dental therapy is pertinent and nonaversive techniques like tell-show-do, voice control, and positive reinforcement are ineffective; the role of advanced behavior guidance techniques like physical restraints and protective stabilization is of paramount importance. Aim: The study was carried out to elicit parents’ opinion and record their response to their children’s experience who underwent dental treatment with an extra assistant for protective stabilization. Materials and Methods: Response was elicited to a questionnaire from 50 parents of children lacking cooperative ability and were exposed to an extra assistant for protective stabilization during various dental procedures. Results: The dental assistant was most preferred as the extra assistant to provide active stabilization. An overwhelming 98% of the parents agreed to protective stabilization with an extra assistant as advantageous and a good 88% of the parents recommended its use for further appointments of their children. Conclusion: Majority of the parents approved protective stabilization with an extra assistant in future appointments of their children.

Navigating early childhood caries management in children with autism and developmental disorders: A U.S. perspective

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent and preventable oral health concern among children, presenting unique challenges when managing those with autism and developmental disorders. This paper explores navigating ECC management in this population from a U.S. perspective. Understanding the impact of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disorders on oral health is crucial, given their higher risk of ECC due to behavioral, dietary, and hygiene factors. Diagnosis and assessment pose particular challenges, requiring tailored approaches to accommodate sensory sensitivities and communication barriers. Preventive strategies encompass parent/caregiver education, customized oral hygiene instruction, dietary counseling, and fluoride varnish application. Behavioral management techniques, such as desensitization and creating a positive dental experience, are essential for successful treatment. Treatment approaches may involve restorative procedures, considering sedation or anesthesia for children with heightened anxiety or sensory issues, often requiring collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Long-term management emphasizes maintaining oral health habits and regular dental visits, adjusting to changes in behavior and developmental needs over time. Addressing barriers to care, including access, financial constraints, and provider education, is crucial for effective ECC management in this population. ECC management in children with autism and developmental disorders requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach tailored to individual needs. Future research should focus on refining diagnostic techniques, enhancing preventive interventions, and improving access to dental care services for this vulnerable population. By addressing these challenges, we can strive to improve oral health outcomes and quality of life for children with autism and developmental disorders.

Parental Acceptance and Attitudes Towards Various Behavior Management techniques for Children During Dental Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the parental perceptions and attitudes towards different behavior management techniques commonly employed by dentists. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a self-structured questionnaire. Data was collected from 134 parents accompanying their children (aged 5-10 years) for dental treatment. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out using SPSS v21. RESULTS: Among the 134 parents, 41.7% were males and 58.3% were females. The mean age of the children included in the study was 6.67 (SD+ 0.92) of which 44.02% were males and 55.9% were females. In addressing non-cooperation during dental procedures 30.1% of the parents would opt to defer the treatment and 24.4% expressed a preference for the dentist to perform the procedure forcefully. A majority of 86.5% expressed the desire to accompany their child during the dental treatment.The most acceptable technique by the parents was Tell-Show-Do and live modeling followed by positive reinforcement while treatment under general anesthesia was the least acceptable. CONCLUSION: Parents prefer using less aggressive techniques like Tell-Show-Do, modeling and positive reinforcement for the management of their children and the majority want to accompany the child during the treatment. The parents' least accepted technique is treatment under general anesthesia. A thorough understanding of parental desires promotes a healthy dentist-parent relationship. KEYWORDS: Behavior therapy, Parental consent, Dentist-patient relationship, Pediatric Dentistry, Behavior management techniques

Comparative Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Innovative Periorbital Eye Massager and Virtual Reality Eyeglasses for Reducing Dental Anxiety during Dental Restorative Procedures in Children.

Many behavior management techniques are employed to reduce the anxiety associated with dental procedures in children. One of the most commonly used methods comprises audiovisual distraction using virtual reality (VR) eyeglasses. In this study, an innovative device, a periorbital eye massager (PEM), is compared with VR to evaluate dental anxiety in children. in this study, 22 children were divided into two groups, that is, group I consisting of PEM and group II consisting of VR. The participants were instructed to wear the device and then subjected to dental restorative procedures. After completion of the procedure, anxiety was measured using a validated questionnaire by the children and by using the modified behavior pain scale by the second investigator. Also, physiological parameters like heart rate and oxygen saturation were evaluated before and after a dental procedure. The results were statistically insignificant for group I and group II when a validated questionnaire and modified behavior pain scale were used to measure the dental anxiety of children. Also, the data also shows no significant difference in heart rate and oxygen saturation between the two groups. The innovative PEM can also be used as an effective behavior management tool in managing dental anxiety in children, as there was no statistically significant difference between PEM and VR. As a pediatric dentist, the methods for administering a patient present a novel challenge because behavior management varies from patient to patient. As a result, the prospects for augmenting various techniques of behavior therapy for pediatric patients are limitless. Gala UP, Kalaskar R. Comparative Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Innovative Periorbital Eye Massager and Virtual Reality Eyeglasses for Reducing Dental Anxiety during Dental Restorative Procedures in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(1):48-53.

Effectiveness of reframing as behaviour management technique in paediatric dentistry: A scoping review

Background: For children with fear and anxiety, dental appointments are considered as stressful situations. The dental literature has mentioned various behaviour management techniques used to reduce the dental fear and anxiety. Reframing is one such technique which is used for behaviour management with wide applications in health sciences. Hence, exploring this technique in the dental literature is of prime importance.Objectives: This scoping review aims to identify the evidence on the effectiveness of reframing as behaviour management technique in children undergoing dental treatment in the available literature.Method: The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews is followed in this study and relevant published data from case reports, randomized and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials and literature reviews published without restricting time line till August 2023 from online databases of PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest were assessed by two reviewers for their suitability with our aim of study. The data were synthesized using content analysis.Results: Through literature search, 108 articles were found based on search strategy. After screening the titles, keywords and abstract and removing the duplicates only 10 articles were included for full text review. In the end only 5 articles were included for scoping review for their content analysis.Conclusions: The searched literature has revealed that reframing had changed the behaviour of the child towards dental outcomes but the literature is sparse regarding behaviour management technique for children to alleviate fear and anxiety. Also, there were no clinical trials done to know the efficacy of this technique and means to measure the outcome.

Perception of Behaviour Management Techniques for Paediatric Patients among Dental Officers

Introduction: Dental anxiety can be effectively managed by applying pharmacological and non-pharmacological behavioural management therapy approaches (BMT). This study investigated the dental officers’ perception of behaviour management techniques practiced in managing paediatric dental patients in primary dental clinics. Materials and methods: A quantitative study using structured online English questionnaires among dental officers serving in primary dental care services under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH Malaysia) in Sabah. The acceptability of applied behaviour management techniques was measured using Likert scale from 0 to 10. Data was analysed using SPSS version 29 and descriptive data was presented. Results: Seventy-four dental officers involved in this study (Male= 14, Female= 60). Positive verbal reinforcement, tell-show-do, and offering an exact explanation of what the findings indicate are the most widely accepted behaviour management strategies (BMT), with mean scores of 9.5, 9.1, and 8.7, respectively. The least accepted BMT among dental officers in Sabah are immobilisation with a papoose board, preventing the child from speaking during treatment, and hand over mouth (HOM), with mean scores of 4.6, 3.6, and 3.2, respectively. Conclusion: The study concludes that the most recognized BMT is positive reinforcement technique regardless of age, experience and gender. This finding provides information in the development of modules for continuous professional development training among dental officers in the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Virtual Reality Distraction: A Novel Behaviour Management Technique

ABSTRACT Virtual reality distraction (VRD) is developing technologies for behavior management that can assist a child in adjusting to the dental setting and provide high-quality dental care. The purpose of this literature is to shed light on VRD and its application to the treatment of pediatric dental patients.

Enhancing special care dentistry with waiting room based multisensory-adapted dental environment: A randomized controlled-trial.

To assess the effectiveness of waiting room based multisensory adapted dental environment (SADE) as a novel, non-invasive behavior management technique in alleviating anxiety levels in children with Down syndrome. This study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, D.Y. Patil University School of Dentistry, Nerul, Navi Mumbai. A total of 40 children between 8 and 13 years of age diagnosed with Down syndrome were included in our study. Prior to the first dental evaluation, they were divided equally into two groups using simple randomization via lottery system. Group A (Intervention group): Patients were subjected to a sensory adapted environment (SADE) in the waiting room for 10 min prior to dental evaluation. Group B (Control group): Patients were subjected to a regular dental environment (RDE) in the waiting room for 10 min prior to dental evaluation. Outcome parameters evaluated at baseline and post dental evaluation were anxiety and behavior, using a pulse oximeter and the Modified Venham's Scale respectively. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 21.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL). The 'p' value<.05 was taken as significant at 95% confidence interval. Mann-Whitney U test was used to carry out the inter group analysis which showed a significant increase in the heart rate (26.00, p=.00) in Group B and a significant decrease in the Modified Venham Scale score (90.00, p=.001) in Group A. The Wilcoxon Signed ranks test was used to carry out the intra group analysis for which a significant difference between the two time intervals for heart rate (-3.69, p=.00) and Modified Venham Scale score (-1.46, p=.03) was obtained in Group A whereas a significant difference was obtained only in the heart rate (-3.04, p=.002) in Group B. Multisensory-adapted dental environment (SADE) in the waiting room effectively improves behavior, reduces anxiety and sensory discomfort among children with Down syndrome.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of tell-show-do and ask-tell-ask in the management of dental fear and anxiety: a double-blinded randomized control trial.

The objective of behavioral guidance is to establish effective communication that aligns with a child's requirements to manage disruptive behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Tell-Show-Do and Ask-Tell-Ask techniques in managing dental anxiety in children during their initial appointment. The study included 50 children (28 boys and 22 girls) without any prior experience between the ages of 7 and 11 at their first dental visit. The children were randomly categorized into two groups: Group 1, Tell Shows Do, and Group 2, Ask-Tell-Ask. Subsequently, all children underwent noninvasive treatment procedures such as restorations, sealants, and oral prophylaxis. Furthermore, behavioral management techniques were employed based on the allocated group. Finally, anxiety levels for all children were assessed using the Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata Pictorial Scale (RMS-PS) and heart rate at three different intervals (before, during, and after). The obtained data were entered into Microsoft Excel, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. A paired t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the mean and median values of the two groups and determine their effectiveness. Children in the TSD group exhibited statistically significant heart rates and RMS-PS scores in intra-group comparisons. However, children in the ask-tell-ask group showed a significant reduction only in the RMS-PS scores (P < 0.001) but not in the measures used to assess heart rate (P < 0.001). Tell-Show-Do was more effective than ask-tell-ask in alleviating dental anxiety in children. The simultaneous application of these two strategies can synergistically alleviate dental anxiety during a child's initial dentist appointment.

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

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. 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. 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. 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.

Effect of an innovative relaxation technique on dental anxiety among 8- to 11-year-olds during infiltrative anesthetic procedures: a randomized control trial

BACKGROUND: Dental procedures especially involving local anesthesia have ranked highest in anxiety as the anaesthetic needle's appearance and feel are the most fear eliciting stimuli in children. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of an innovative reframing behaviour management technique by the combination of breathing and foot rotation in reducing dental fear. METHOD: In this randomized control trial, 50 children aged 8- 11 years of age, requiring local anesthesia in the maxillary arch and also based on inclusion criteria were selected. Subjects were divided by using flip of coin method of randomization. Children in the test group were taught to carry out deep breathing and simultaneous feet rotation in which the right foot was rotated in clockwise and left foot in anticlockwise direction. The exercises were asked to perform while the local anaesthesia was injected. No exercises were performed in control group. CFSS-DS scale was used as a tool and children fearful for injection were included. Pulse rate, SPO2 were used as physiologic parameters while FLACC scale was used to analyze fear. RESULT: In our study which included both subjective and objective recordings of anxiety during anaesthesia statistically significant variation between the two groups was observed. The FLACC score and pulse rate showed a statistically significant difference (p value &lt;0.05) in the intervention group. There was a marked reduction for fear of injections after the treatment in case group. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the study, the innovative exercise reduced the anxiety in children during anesthetic procedures and can be used as an alternative behaviour management strategy.

The application of behaviour modification techniques among paediatric patients in a dental set-up- A pilot study

This study was performed to evaluate the different non-pharmacological behaviour modification techniques preferred by the parents, to know whether single or multiple behaviour modification techniques are required to regulate the behaviour of the child and to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological behaviour modification techniques in the operating procedure. 30 children aged between 4-7 years who required pulp therapy treatment to be done under local anaesthesia were enrolled for the study with parental consent. A video containing different behaviour management techniques was shown to the parents who had accompanied the child to the operatory. A questionnaire was given to the parents for their feedback, the response to each question was coded and the values of each code were analyzed statistically. The parents’ preferred technique was applied to their children before the planned treatment. Nonpharmacological behaviour modification techniques were effective in 90% of the children and it was found to be highly significant (p ≤ 0.05). It was seen that 66.67% of the children required more than one nonpharmacological behaviour modification technique to make them behave positively. The most preferred technique by the parents in this study was Positive Reinforcement (30%).This study brings forth that nonpharmacological behaviour management techniques can be successfully used to regulate most of the children in a paediatric clinic setup.

Comparison of basic and advanced behaviour management techniques between Colombian and Spanish parents during regular treatment and in emergency situations.

To evaluate the acceptance of behaviour management techniques by Spanish and Colombian parents used in paediatric dentistry and the influence of factors that determine their consent during regular treatment and in emergency situations. An anonymous questionnaire was carried out in which 9 behaviour management techniques (BMTs) used in paediatric dentistry by Spanish and Colombian parents were evaluated in cases of regular dental treatment and in emergency situations (pain and/or dental trauma). The techniques evaluated were: tell-show-do (TSD), voice control, positive reinforcement, distraction, parental presence-absence, nitrous oxide, passive and active restraint, and general anaesthesia. The questionnaire also included information on the sociodemographic information about parents and their children, previous dental experience, and dental anxiety of the parents. The data were analysed using SPSSTM software, r. 26 of IBMTM. A value of p≤ 0.05 was considered as statically significant. A total sample of 124 questionnaire (62 from each country) was obtained. The basic BMT were the most accepted in both countries, especially by Spanish parents. In emergency situations, statistically significant differences were obtained in the acceptance of nitrous oxide and general anesthesia compared to their use in routine treatments (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in the preference of the techniques in relation to the age of the children or parental dental anxiety (p>0.05). An association was found between the socioeconomic status and the acceptance of nitrous oxide (p=0.005) and general anesthesia (p=0.004). The basic techniques were the most accepted by Spanish and Colombian parents. However, the Spanish parents had a better perception of both types of techniques compared to the Colombians. Their preference was influenced by factors such as annual income and need for urgent treatment of their children.