Comparison of Three Behavior Modification Techniques for Management of Anxious Pediatric Dental Patients Aged 4–6 Years during Cavity Preparation Using Airotor: A Randomized Controlled Trial

games offer a modern, accessible, and cost-effective approach to help ease dental anxiety in young patients.By using these applications, children can engage in virtual dental treatments and learn how procedures can be performed in a painless and nontraumatic manner.5 Not much scientific data is available that compares the effectiveness of smartphone dentist game app and AVD with the TSD technique in reducing anxiety among pediatric dental patients.Therefore, the present study makes a sincere effort to compare the effectiveness of three noninvasive techniques in reducing anxiety among pediatric dental patients. IntroductIonDuring their initial dental visit, children predominantly experience feelings of anxiety and fear.Child dental anxiety is described as a nonspecific feeling of apprehension, worry, uneasiness, or dread, often arising from a vague or unidentified source. 1 The development of dental anxiety in children is influenced by multiple factors.It extends beyond the fear of pain or invasive procedures and includes elements such as separation from parents, unfamiliar dental equipment, and interaction with new individuals.2 An inability to cope with threatening dental stimuli can negatively affect a child's psychological well-being and make the dental appointment a distressing experience.Alleviating dental anxiety in children is crucial not only for reducing immediate fear, but also for preventing the persistence of dental apprehension into later stages of life.3 The tell-show-do (TSD) technique, introduced by Addelston in 1959, remains a cornerstone of behavior management in pediatric dentistry and is one of the most widely used behavior modification methods.4 Audiovisual distraction (AVD), grounded in the principles of learning theory, is a passive distraction technique that effectively engages both auditory and visual senses in an enjoyable manner to reduce anxiety.Nowadays, various mobile applications are designed to educate children about dental procedures.These interactive simulation