Knowledge of Primary Care Dentists regarding Pediatric Behavioral Management

Abstract

Aims: The present study aimed to assess the knowledge of dentists working in Primary Health Care in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, regarding non-pharmacological pediatric behavioral management techniques. Study Design:  This was a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study. This knowledge is essential because adequate behavioral management directly influences treatment success, reduces anxiety, and improves cooperation during pediatric dental care. A cross-sectional descriptive design was chosen because it allows the assessment of current knowledge and practices of a large group of professionals in a single time period, providing an overview of the situation in Primary Health Care. Methodology: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under consolidated opinion No. 7,170,489 and conducted with 120 dentists working in the Family Health Teams of the municipality, through a self-administered questionnaire with 16 questions on professional profile, knowledge, and application of these techniques. Data collection was carried out from February to April 2025. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and the chi-square test, considering P < .05 as statistically significant. Results: The results indicated high knowledge and use of the “tell-show-do” technique (99.2% and 98.3%, respectively), which was also the preferred method for 85% of the dentists. In contrast, “modeling” showed lower levels of knowledge (62.5%) and use (56.7%), with a significant association observed for both variables with longer professional experience. Although 82.5% of dentists were familiar with “protective stabilization”, it was the least applied technique (43.3%). Knowledge of this technique was associated with longer professional experience (P=.004), and its use was associated with the female gender (P=.008). Conclusion: Although Primary Health Care dentists demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of most techniques, the limited use of physical management strategies highlights the need for targeted training to improve the care of non-cooperative children in primary healthcare settings.