A Clinical Comparative Study to Evaluate Anxiety in Children with the Use of Conventional and Camouflaged Syringe.

Background And Objectives: Childhood dental anxiety is one of the most common challenges encountered in pediatric dental operatory, as many children totally avoid the dental examination and treatment due to the same. Visual impact of syringes and needles may hinder the child's cooperation as successful administration of local anesthesia plays a pivotal part in pediatric dental procedures.

 The aim of this study was to evaluate dental anxiety in children aged 6 to 8 years at the time of administration of local anesthesia, during intracanal irrigation and after treatment with the use of conventional and camouflaged syringe.

Methods: In this invivo study, sixty children in the age group of 6 to 8 years were included. Children were divided into 2 groups consisting of 30 children (15 males and 15 females) in each group. In Group A conventional syringe, and in Group B camouflaged syringe were used to administer local anesthesia and intracanal irrigation.

Dental anxiety was assessed using two parameters- The Pulse Rate and Facial Image Scale (FIS) score. Pulse rate was measured using pulse oximeter and FIS score was recorded using Facial Image Scale (FIS). Both the parameters were documented in experimental and control groups at the time of administration of local anesthesia, during intracanal irrigation and after treatment.

Results: A statistically significant difference was seen in pulse rate between group A and group B at the time of administration of local anesthesia, during intracanal irrigation and after treatment (p=0.00). Intragroup comparison in both group A and group B shows significant difference in all the 3 time intervals showing pulse rate decreases during each time intervals.

Facial Image Scale values between the groups at different time intervals shows that the subjects were less anxious in group B compared to group A(p=0.00).

Conclusion: The study strongly favors the use of camouflaged syringes to reduce dental fear and anxiety in children and is therefore recommended as an alternative to the use of conventional syringes.