Feasibility of a Modified Dental Comfort Position for Pediatric Patients Receiving Dental Exams

Exploring the Feasibility of a Dental Comfort Position Led by Certified Child Life Specialists and Dental Providers

The goal of this study is to learn if a modified bottom-to-bottom comfort position is a feasible alternative to the traditional knee-to-knee position during dental hygiene examinations for patients aged 12 months to 5 years. In the modified position, the patient sits in their caregiver's lap and reclines their head on the dental chair, allowing for both parental contact and dental provider access to the patient's mouth. This study will also examine the modified position's impact on the patient's distress and cooperation during the exam, parental satisfaction, and provider perception. The main questions are:

Is the modified comfort position a safe and feasible alternative for young children undergoing dental hygiene exams? How does the modified comfort position impact patient completion rate and dental exam duration? How does the modified comfort position impact patient distress and cooperation, parental satisfaction, and provider acceptability?

Participants will:

Utilize the modified comfort position with the guidance of a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Undergo a routine dental hygiene exam. Answer survey questions about parental satisfaction and patient psychological and developmental diagnoses.

Dental providers will answer survey questions about acceptability and feasibility.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 12 months to 5 years
• Children attending the CHCO Health Pavilion Dental Clinic for a dental hygiene examination or cleaning visit
• Children accompanied by a parent or legal guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children requiring sedation for their dental hygiene visit
• Children and families' primary language is not English or Spanish
• Children requiring medical immobilization (MI) for their hygiene visit
• Dental provider is unwilling to utilize modified bottom-to-bottom positioning