Evaluating the Impact of Colored Compomer on Oral Hygiene in 5–8-year-old Children and Assessment of Parental Acceptance: A Cohort Study

Pediatric dentists can utilize a variety of behavior management techniques customized to meet individual needs, helping to reduce anxiety and improve cooperation during dental procedures. 1 Allowing the child a sense of control is an effective, noninvasive behavior management technique known to reduce disruptive behavior in clinical settings.One of the most commonly used nonverbal communication methods involves asking the child to raise a hand to stop the dental procedure, thereby sharing and enhancing their sense of control.4 Similarly, offering the child the opportunity to choose the type or color of the restoration to be placed in their teeth can also be a successful approach.1 Despite its credible mechanical properties and positive impact on IntroductIonThe quest for a material combining the fluoride-releasing capability of conventional glass ionomer with the durability of composite led to the development of polyacid-modified composite, or compomer.This material releases fluoride and undergoes an acidbase reaction in the presence of saliva.In children, especially with high caries risk, the use of colored restoration helps in retaining their fluoride-releasing capabilities and can be revived by topical fluoride application.Since their introduction to the market in 1993, compomers have been utilized for the restoration of primary teeth. 1 Studies conducted by Arora et al. and Kramer and Frankenberger et al. have stated that hybrid composite and compomer exhibit comparable success rates in pediatric dentistry and demonstrate higher clinical success when compared to glass ionomer cements.2,3 When compared to conventional composites, compomers contain a small amount of glitter particles that produce a color effect ranging from natural tooth color with a sparkle to shades of pink, blue, and green.3 Addressing anxiety in young children using behavior control methods presents considerable difficulties for pediatric dentists.Dental anxiety and fear are significant public health concerns worldwide, leading to challenges in behavior management and reluctance to seek dental care, especially in children with active caries.Elevated levels of anxiety can adversely affect a child's willingness to cooperate and the overall effectiveness of dental care.Establishing a positive dentist-patient relationship is essential for alleviating children's fears and facilitating successful treatment.