Which of the following is a pharmacologic approach rather than a non-pharmacologic technique?

• A. Tell-Show-Do
• B. Distraction
• C. Sedation
• D. Parental presence

Answer: (C)

The concept here is telling apart methods that rely on drugs from those that work through behavior management alone. Sedation uses pharmacologic agents to depress the central nervous system to a desired level, reducing anxiety and pain so the dental procedure can proceed more smoothly. This makes it a pharmacologic approach. The other options rely on non-drug strategies: Tell-Show-Do uses explanation, demonstration, and practice to ease fear; Distraction shifts the patient’s attention away with toys, videos, or music; Parental presence relies on the comforting influence of a parent without affecting physiology with medications. So, sedation stands out as the pharmacologic method.