Efficacy of the Video Modeling Technique as a Facilitator of Non-invasive Dental Care in Autistic Children: Randomized Clinical Trial.

Researchers tested whether showing autistic children a video before dental appointments would help them cope better. They studied 40 children aged 4-12, with half watching a preparation video and half not watching anything. Children who watched the video needed fewer dental visits on average (1.5 visits) compared to those who didn't watch the video (2 visits). This suggests that preparation videos might help autistic children feel more comfortable at the dentist and complete their treatment faster.

This randomized controlled trial investigated video modeling as a preparation technique for dental appointments in autistic children aged 4-12 years. The study compared 40 children across two groups: an intervention group that watched a video before dental consultation and a control group that did not. Results demonstrated that children who watched the video required significantly fewer dental visits (mean 1.5 visits) compared to controls (mean 2 visits, p ≤ 0.05). The video modeling technique showed promise as an effective intervention for reducing the number of dental consultations needed for autistic children, potentially improving dental care accessibility and reducing stress associated with multiple appointments.

Video modeling appears to be a practical, cost-effective intervention that dental practices could implement to improve treatment efficiency for autistic children. The technique may reduce appointment-related stress and improve treatment completion rates. However, larger studies are needed to confirm effectiveness across diverse populations and dental procedures before widespread clinical implementation.

Small sample size (40 participants) limits generalizability. Study focused only on non-invasive dental care. Limited age range (4-12 years) may not apply to adolescents or adults. No information provided about video content, duration, or long-term follow-up. Single outcome measure may not capture full treatment experience.

This study aims to evaluate the video modeling technique during the dental appointment. A blinded randomized clinical trial was composed of 2 groups, consisting of 20 autistic children (4 to 12 years) in each group: control (did not watch the video before the consultation) and intervention (watched the video before the consultation). The primary outcome was the mean number of visits to perform a dental appointment. The number of consultations was analyzed by T-test or Mann-Whitney test.

The results showed that the mean number of consultations in the intervention group was 1.5 (± 1.53) and in the control group 2 (± 1.77) (p ≤ 0.05). The video modeling technique can be effective in minimizing the number of dental consultations in autistic children.