Percepção dos técnicos em saúde bucal em relação aos métodos de gerenciamento do comportamento utilizados em odontopediatria

Abstract

Behavioral management in pediatric dentistry is essential for quality care, with Dental Health Technicians (DHT) being active participants in this process. However, there are few studies on their perceptions of behavioral management techniques (BMT). This study aimed to evaluate the perception of DHT students and professionals regarding the main BMT in Pediatric Dentistry. A quantitative descriptive research was conducted with 81 participants (42 students and 39 professionals) via Google Forms questionnaire, containing sociodemographic questions and perception of BMT. The sample was exclusively female, 51.85% aged between 27-45 years, with 55.56% working with children, but only 35.80% received training in BMT. The most accepted techniques, in decreased order, were tell-show-do (98.76%), positive reinforcement (97.53%), distraction (90.13%), voice control (86.42%), parental presence (65.43%), and protective stabilization (51.85%). So, there is a disparity between practical performance (55.56%) and formal training (35.08%), with preference for basic techniques, highlighting the need for better alignment between theoretical education and professional practice