Behaviour management by colouring exercise using features of cognitive development in children

Anxiety is an important stumbling block faced by paediatric dentists in routine practice. Paediatric dentists should address these concerns seeking a satisfactory patient/professional relationship and making it easier to provide dental treatment for children. Aim: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of colouring exercise in reducing dental anxiety in children and to find out if colouring can be a newer adjunct in behaviour management. Methods and material: Fifty subjects of age group 4-9 years were selected for the study according to Frankl’s behaviour rating scale. Study group was divided into two as Group A: 4-6 years ,Group B: >6-9 years. The anxiety level of children in each group before and after colouring exercise was measured using facial image scale. Statistical analysis used: Analysis was done using Wilcoxon test, mann-whitney test. Results: The mean anxiety score in Group A before colouring exercise was found to be 3.52(4) and after applying this technique the mean score was reduced to 2.44(2) and it was found to be highly statistically significant. In Group B the mean anxiety score before colouring was found to be 2.4(2) and after applying this technique mean score was reduced to 1.48(1) and was found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: According to our findings, children aged 4-6year shows reduced anxiety levels compared to that of >6-9years. This result suggests that there is a correlation between children’s cognitive development and anxiety level. Colouring exercise can be a novel non pharmacological behaviour management method in clinical paediatric dentistry.