Differences between normal and developmentally disabled children in a first dental visit.

Twenty-eight three- and four-year-old normal children participated in a study where they were exposed to a tape-slide series before a first dental examination. The audiovisual product gives an explanation about a first examination, the children having no previous dental experience. The purposes of the study were to evaluate the behavior modification that took place and to see whether differences could be found with the results of the same study performed four years before, with developmentally disabled children. The results obtained with normal children were the opposite of those obtained with special children. The normal population subjected to the audiovisual technique behaved better and had a lower heart rate throughout the appointment.