Abstract: Children who experience anxiety associated with novel situations react physically and emotionally in ways that make it challenging for the child, parents, educators, and providers to proceed with the intended goal of that novel situation. Anxiety in children can be reduced by introducing fun or distracting stimuli that act on specific neural pathways. The stimuli introduced can familiarize a child with the environment in which the procedure will take place and the equipment and people which the child will meet. In the healthcare setting, by using consistent stimuli, and by disrupting anxiety at one or more of a series of stages in which anxiety typically occurs, a reduction in needed anesthesia can be achieved, which is healthier for the child and reduces the costs associated with the medical or dental procedure.

Abstract: Toothbrush training systems and methods are disclosed. A toothbrush training system can include a toothbrush, a reward generator, and means to communicate a musical reward to a user of the toothbrush. The toothbrush can be in communication with a sensor in varying ways. The reward generator can be configured to generate the musical reward based on a signal from the sensor. A method can include providing a user with a cue to clean his/her teeth using a toothbrush; sensing movement, orientation or acceleration of the toothbrush; generating a musical reward for the user based on sensed movement, orientation or acceleration of the toothbrush; and communicating the musical reward to the user.

Abstract: Children who experience anxiety associated with novel situations react physically and emotionally in ways that make it challenging for the child, parents, educators, and providers to proceed with the intended goal of that novel situation. Anxiety in children can be reduced by introducing fun or distracting stimuli that act on specific neural pathways. The stimuli introduced can familiarize a child with the environment in which the procedure will take place and the equipment and people which the child will meet. In the healthcare setting, by using consistent stimuli, and by disrupting anxiety at one or more of a series of stages in which anxiety typically occurs, a reduction in needed anesthesia can be achieved, which is healthier for the child and reduces the costs associated with the medical or dental procedure.

Abstract: Children who experience anxiety associated with novel situations react physically and emotionally in ways that make it challenging for the child, parents, educators, and providers to proceed with the intended goal of that novel situation. Anxiety in children can be reduced by introducing fun or distracting stimuli that act on specific neural pathways. The stimuli introduced can familiarize a child with the environment in which the procedure will take place and the equipment and people which the child will meet. In the healthcare setting, by using consistent stimuli, and by disrupting anxiety at one or more of a series of stages in which anxiety typically occurs, a reduction in needed anesthesia can be achieved, which is healthier for the child and reduces the costs associated with the medical or dental procedure.

Abstract: A fastener includes a first end, an elongate body, and a second end. The first end includes a cylinder having an entry aperture at a terminus, a wall, and an inner lumen aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The lumen terminates at the entry aperture. The elongate body is aligned coaxially with the longitudinal axis and contiguous with the cylinder. The second end includes an insertion body aligned coaxially with the elongate body and contiguous with the elongate body. The entry aperture and the lumen are configured to receive the second end. The second end is aligned to penetrate the entry aperture and thereafter enter the lumen.