Nutter & Baker – WOW Session I: Behavior Management Track-Nutter & Baker Dr.-Suher-Baker-Presentation-Slides

Nutter & Baker Dr.-Suher-Baker-Presentation-Slides

Pdf Summary

This document summarizes a study evaluating a systematic, nonpharmacologic Anxiety Reduction Program (ARP) designed to help anxious pediatric dental patients tolerate treatment in the dental office and reduce the need for dental care under general anesthesia (GA). The ARP’s primary aim was to use progressive desensitization—gradual, structured exposure to dental procedures—along with evidence-based communication and behavior guidance techniques to lower children’s anxiety to a manageable level.<br /><br />The program incorporated multiple strategies, including direct observation, positive pre-visit imagery, nonverbal communication, Ask-Tell-Ask, Tell-Show-Do, memory restructuring, distraction, positive reinforcement, parental presence/absence guidance, trust-and-control enhancement, parent coaching, animal-assisted approaches, hypnosis, sensory-adapted environments, guided imagery, signaling, rest breaks, picture exchange communication, and cognitive behavioral treatment elements.<br /><br />Methods and materials indicate the study reviewed 227 patients participating in ARP between 2017 and 2019, limited to ASA I children. Data collected included age, gender, prior in-office dental experience, baseline anxiety/behavior level using Frankl ratings (F1 to F4), and whether treatment was completed in-office or required GA. Patient ages at first ARP ranged from 2.1 to 15.3 years, with a median age of 5.6 years, and the sample was roughly evenly split by gender (110 male, 117 female). Results sections reference overall success and comparisons such as referrals vs. non-referrals and anxiety levels (F4 vs. F1), though detailed numeric outcomes are not provided in the text.<br /><br />The authors conclude that ARP is a successful, personalized, objective, and evidence-based approach, offering a noninvasive way to provide comprehensive in-office dental care for most anxious patients. They emphasize that advanced behavior guidance programs like ARP are important for achieving optimal dental outcomes and minimizing reliance on general anesthesia.

Keywords

pediatric dental anxiety

anxiety reduction program (ARP)

nonpharmacologic behavior management

progressive desensitization

tell-show-do technique

ask-tell-ask communication

Frankl behavior rating scale

general anesthesia avoidance

in-office dental treatment tolerance

evidence-based behavior guidance