Pick the Pic- A Novel Fear Survey Tool to Assess Pre - Operative Fear in Planning and Aiding Behavior Management Among Children in a Dental Setup - A Clinical Trial

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate novel pick the pic scale for pre - operative dental fear assessment for children with first dental visit. Material and methodology: The content and construct validity of the "Pick the Pic" fear scale were evaluated prior to the study involving 25 children aged 6 - 10 from the KVG Dental College and Hospital. Each child completed both the Pick the Pic scale and the Children's Fear Survey Schedule - Dental Subscale (CFSS - DS) before their oral examination. Participants rated their fear for each picture on the Pick the Pic scale and each question on the CFSS - DS using a scale from 1 (least fearful) to 5 (most fearful). The results were then tabulated for comparison between the two scales, facilitating an assessment of fear levels in a dental context. Results: In the study, the gender distribution included 11 males (44%) and 14 females (56%), with a p - value of 0.548 indicating no significant difference between genders. The mean age of participants was 9.8 years (SD = 1.7), with no significant age differences observed between genders (p = 0.855 for males). Fear and anxiety levels were assessed using two scales: the CFSS - Dental subscale, which yielded a mean score of 3.24 (?1.61) out of a maximum of 15, and the Pick the Pic scale, with a mean score of 1.96 (?1.30) out of 6. Among participants, 88% reported little or no fear on the CFSS scale compared to 68% on the Pick the Pic scale (p = 0.0878), indicating no statistical significance. Moderate fear was reported by 12% on the CFSS scale versus 24% on the Pick the Pic scale (p = 0.269). No participants reported high levels of fear on the CFSS scale, while 8% did on the Pick the Pic scale (p = 0.149), further supporting the lack of significant differences in fear perception between the two scales. Conclusion: The findings indicate that pediatric dental patients generally experience manageable levels of fear during dental procedures, with no significant differences in fear levels based on gender or age. This suggests that these demographic factors do not critically influence anxiety among children in a dental setting. The study emphasizes the need for ongoing assessment and effective management strategies to enhance children's dental experiences and promote better oral health outcomes. Additionally, the "Pick the Pic" scale has been validated as a viable alternative to the CFSS - DS for assessing fear, aiding in behavior management for pediatric patients.