Defense Date
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Dentistry
Department
Dentistry
First Advisor
Tiffany L. Williams
Abstract
Abstract
Parental Acceptance of Advanced Behavioral Management Techniques on Children in Pediatric Dentistry
By: Trieu, T., Winheim, M., Shroff, B., Carrico, C., Williams, T.
Objective: Protective stabilization, moderate sedation, and general anesthesia are advanced behavior management techniques (ABMT) used in pediatric dentistry to deliver safe dental treatment to children. Parental trends in the United States have fluctuated on the dental use of protective immobilization and pharmacological management regardless of increasing dental treatment needs. This study evaluates parental acceptance of protective stabilization, moderate sedation, and general anesthesia in pediatric dental care and analyzes the major factors influencing their decision.
Methods: Parents/guardians whose children attend the pediatric dental clinic participated in the survey based on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1=Totally Unacceptable to 5=Totally Acceptable. Differences in mean acceptability were assessed using repeated measures regression to account for respondents rating three modalities under three treatment conditions. Significance level was set at 0.05. Parents marked which factors influenced their decision.
Results: Acceptability of protective stabilization ranged from 86% (exam) to 99% (emergency) with an average of 4.1 (SE=0.06). Acceptability of sedation ranged from 80% (exam), 97% (restorative) to 96% (emergency), with an average of 4.1 (SE=0.07). Acceptability of general anesthesia ranged from 67% (exams) to 87% (emergency), with an average of 3.7 (SE=0.08). Acceptability rates were associated with the type of ABMT (P< .0001) and treatment type (P< .0001). Among visit types, ABMT’s were significantly less acceptable for dental exams. General anesthesia was rated significantly lower in acceptance than either protective stabilization (P< .0001) or sedation (P< .0001).
Conclusion: Parents showed high overall acceptance of advanced behavior management techniques, with significantly greater approval for protective stabilization and sedation than for general anesthesia. Acceptability was lower for routine exam and higher for restorative and emergency visits, indicating that parental approval increases with treatment urgency. Parents indicated that the risks associated with each technique was the most important contributing factor in their decision.
Rights
© Trieu, T., Winheim, M., Shroff, B., Carrico, C., Williams, T.
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-26-2026