Comparative evaluation of two behavior guidance techniques in reducing pain perception and anxiety during local anesthesia administration in children: A Randomized Clinical trial

Local anesthesia (LA) plays an important role in many pediatric dental procedures to control pain. However, the local anesthesia can itself provoke anxiety in children. Hence distraction techniques are used in pediatric dentistry to divert childs attention away from noxious stimuli and reduce their dental anxiety.

Aim :To evaluate the effectiveness of  Hands-eyes-mouth (HEM) distraction technique and covering patient’s vision technique on pain perception and anxiety during LA administration in children aged 6-12years.

Objectives:

•To assess the effect of  HEM distraction technique

•To assess the effect of Covering Patient’s Vision technique

•To compare the effectiveness of HEM distraction and covering patient’s vision technique in reducing dental anxiety and pain during LA administration.

Methodology :

The present study will be a randomized clinical trial using simple random sampling. A total of 50 healthy children aged 6-12 years who require local anesthesia administration during dental procedure will be included in the study and they will be divided into two groups:

Group 1 : Hands-Eyes-Mouth distraction group

Group 2 : Covering patient vision distraction group

In both the groups, anxiety levels will be recorded using physiological measure i.e., Pulse oximeter ( Before, during and after LA) and subjective measure by Animated Emoji scale ( before LA and after LA)

Pain perception will be recorded during LA administration by Sound Eye Motor scale and LA administration by Colored Analogue scale.