The visual response of children in the dental chair was studied when dental instruments were passed between the female dentist and the dental hygienist. For this purpose, we produced a video showing the dentist and hygienist exchanging a dental mirror and tweezers. The video was individually presented to 40 infant subjects who lay back in the dental chair. The eye movements of the children as they watched were measured for analysis by means of the Visicon Eye-camera. The findings were as follows:
1. The primary fixation point of the eyes was investigated. When the mirror was passed from the hygienist to the dentist,29 children (72.5%) were quick to respond to the motion during the exchange and looked at the dentist and hygienist. Two children (5.0%) looked at their mothers near by first, and nine (22.5%) at other things. In the case of the tweezers,24 children (60.0%) responded to the action and looked at the dentist and hygienist. Three (7.5%) looked at their mothers, and 13 (32.5%)at other objects.
2. While the mirror was being exchanged, the subjects fixed their eyes on the motion itself 428times (87.4%) in all. The number of times their eyes fixed on their mothers and other objects was twice (0.4%) and 60 times (12.2%), respectively. In the case of the exchanging tweezers, the motion drew the children's attention 493 times (88.3%), while mothers and other objects,11 times (1.9%)and 55 times (9.8%), respectively.
3. Regarding the pattern of the scanning movements of the eyes,33 child subjects (82.5%) watched only the delivery of the mirror, four (10.0%) ran their eyes over the motion itself and their mothers, and three (7.5%) gazed around at other objects. In the case of the tweezers,29 subjects (72.5%)turned their eyes to the delivery action only, three (7.5%) to their mothers, seven (17.5%) to the action and their mothers, and one (2.5%) to other objects.
4. Of the 40 subjects,37 (92.5%) showed a reaction to the delivery of the mirror. Of this figure,83.8% reacted upon hearing the dentist say “Mirror, please” to the hygienist. In the case of the tweezers,39 children (97.5%) reacted, of which 71.8% reacted to the dentist's voice saying "Tweezers, please.
"From the above, we concluded that children are very sensitive to the movement of the female dentist and the dental hygienist as dental instruments are being passed.