Effect of AI-Supported Child-Friendly Communication on Dental Anxiety in Pediatric Patients

"AI-assisted communication tailored to the developmental stage, age, and gender of children aged 7-12 will be used. Using ChatGPT, voice recordings explaining the local anesthesia process in a child-friendly and reassuring way-avoiding anxiety-provoking terms such as pain and needle-will be prepared. Additionally, a one-minute calming and distracting story will be generated to be played during anesthesia to reduce anxiety and improve cooperation. Children will listen to the AI-generated explanation before the procedure and the story during anesthesia."

"Before local anesthesia, traditional behavior management techniques will be applied by the pediatric dentist based on clinical experience. These include a modified Tell-Show-Do approach (avoiding direct exposure to anxiety-provoking items like dental syringes), voice control, and positive reinforcement. The anesthesia procedure will be explained verbally in an age-appropriate and reassuring manner, for example by describing the use of a magic sleepy spray to numb the tooth. Following this, topical anesthesia and then local anesthesia will be administered. The total procedure will not exceed 5 minutes."