Parental Acceptance of Moderate Sedation and Associated Techniques for Behavior Management in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance of moderate sedation (MS) as a behavior guidance technique (BGT) method among Saudi parents, and also assess their acceptance of other BGTs, including parental separation, papoose board (PB), and nitrous oxide (N₂O), used in conjunction with MS.

Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dental University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It involved Saudi parents of children aged 3-5 years undergoing dental treatment with MS, alongside additional BGTs such as parental separation, PB, and N₂O. Parents completed a questionnaire with demographic details and a post-treatment acceptance survey evaluating their satisfaction with the MS. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic information and parental acceptance. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests analyzed the association between parental acceptance and background characteristics.

Results: A total of 85 parents were included in the study. Among these parents, 77 (90.59%) accepted MS, reporting minimal distress during dental treatment, and 78 (91.76%) would choose MS again. The PB received strong support from 79 (92.94%) of parents, with 83 (97.65%) finding it useful for child protection. However, 43 (50.59%) of parents felt uncomfortable with parental separation during therapy.

Conclusion: Over 90% of Saudi parents showed high acceptance of MS and PB as BGTs. The study also revealed that 50.59% of parents were uncomfortable with being separated from their children during treatment. These findings highlight the need for strategies that can accommodate family involvement in pediatric dentistry, ultimately improving parental satisfaction.