NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN DENTAL PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL…

Meta-analysisThe journal of evidence-based dental practice· Sep 2026

NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN DENTAL PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

Lili Rozgonyi, Eszter Borbély, Bence Szabó … Anita Beck

Child Development & BehaviourMeta-analysisClinical practiceQ1IF 2.3

Audiovisual distraction and sensory-adapted environments linked to lower dental anxiety in neurodevelopmental disorders

NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN DENTAL PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

Lili Rozgonyi … Anita Beck

The journal of evidence-based dental practice · Sep 2026

Background

Children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (neurodevelopmental disorders) frequently experience high dental anxiety and behavioral challenges that complicate routine dental care.

Purpose

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of nonpharmacological interventions on anxiety and cooperation during dental procedures in pediatric patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Methods

The Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool for randomized controlled trials (randomized controlled trials), the ROBINS-I tool for nonrandomized studies of interventions, and the MINORS-tool for single-armed studies were used to assess the risk of bias.

n = 42 studies

Results

less objective anxiety with audiovisual distraction and adapted environments

MD by subgroup · 95% CI

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Audiovisual distractions and SADEs may serve as effective approaches to both improve cooperation and reduce anxiety during dental care for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Clinicians should consider individualized strategies, and continued research is needed to inform dental care protocols for this vulnerable population in everyday practice.

NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN DENTAL PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN DENTAL PROCEDURES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

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