Christopher Gregoire, Daniel Rinchuse, Thomas Zullo, Jason Draper and John Burnheimer*

Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Seton Hill University, USA

*Corresponding Author: John Burnheimer, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Seton Hill University, USA.

Received: September 29, 2025; Published: October 24, 2025

Abstract

Objective: This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a modified behavioral management technique, a pre-procedural recorded patient video demonstration, on anxiety and pain in adolescents in the first five days following the initial placement of fixed orthodontic appliances.

Materials and Methods: A total of 116 subjects between the ages of 10-17 were enrolled in the study, with 88 completing the study. Subjects were randomly allocated to either a recorded typodont group (control) or a recorded patient video group (experimental). Patient perceptions of anxiety and pain were evaluated with the six-item short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the visual analog scale (VAS). Primary outcome was the change in anxiety, while the secondary outcome was difference in pain.

Results: This study revealed that subjects in the recorded patient video group reported significantly lower levels of anxiety and pain compared to the recorded typodont group, particularly within the first 24 hours post-procedure (p < 0.001). Anxiety and pain and levels in both groups gradually decreased over the five-day follow-up period. No significant differences were found between genders for either anxiety or pain.

Conclusions: This study found that recorded patient video demonstrations significantly reduced physiological anxiety and pain in adolescents undergoing the initial placement of fixed orthodontic appliances compared to recorded typodont videos. The most pronounced reduction occurred within the first 24 hours, a critical period for patient comfort. Audiovisual tools like these can enhance the orthodontic experience by improving patient comfort and reducing anxiety.

Keywords: Behavior Management; Anxiety Management; Patient Education; Audiovisual Demonstration; Adolescents

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Citation

Citation: John Burnheimer., et al. “The Efficacy of a Behavioral Management Technique in Reducing Anxiety and Pain in Adolescent Dental Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial".Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 9.11 (2025): 45-55.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 John Burnheimer., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.