[Children's distress during application of local anaesthesia. Computerized tool versus traditional syringe]

Abstract

This study compared the level of distress in children during the application of local anaesthesia by a computerized tool (Wand) and by a traditional syringe. The influence of children's mild or extreme anxiety regarding the dental procedure was also determined. 125 children between the ages of 4 and 11 years old participated in this study. Their discomfort was recorded on videotape and marked on the Venham scale and the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress at 15 second intervals. Parents rated their child's level of anxiety on the Dental Subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule. The results indicate that mildly anxious children suffered less distress and showed less muscle tension, verbal protest and body movement during the first 2 intervals when the computerized tool was used. However, the maximum distress score at the moment of injection was similar in both methods. There was no difference found in the level of distress in the highly anxious children.