Which technique should be used?

Correct answer: B. Tell-show-do

• A. The hand-over-mouth technique (HOME) is no longer taught or endorsed by the AAPD and should never be selected.
• B. Correct. TELL-SHOW-DO is the foundational, non-pharmacologic behaviour guidance technique: explain the procedure in age-appropriate language, demonstrate it, then perform it. It reduces anxiety by making the experience predictable, and it pairs well with short appointments and a low-stimulation environment for a child with ADHD.
• C. General anesthesia is reserved for extensive treatment needs in patients who genuinely cannot cooperate; it is not indicated simply because a child has ADHD.
• D. Protective stabilization is reserved for patients who cannot cooperate because of a lack of maturity or a physical/mental disability, and requires specific informed consent. It is not a first-line approach.

Note: Practical additions for ADHD: schedule SHORT MORNING appointments, minimise waiting time and environmental distraction, use positive reinforcement, and check whether stimulant medication (methylphenidate, amphetamines) has been taken — these commonly cause XEROSTOMIA and raise caries risk, and may cause a modest rise in heart rate and blood pressure.