Children’s preference of dental injectors and its influenceon child cooperation

S. Khalaf, Muna

	Children’s preference of dental injectors and its influenceon child cooperation
Journal of baghdad college of dentistry
Article 1, Volume 23, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 131-135
Author
Muna S. Khalaf
Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: Behavior management approaches in treating children are generally viewed as time demandingactivities that put dentists away from their most important function. Patients, particularly children, consider localdental anesthesia to be a difficult and painful experience and a dentist who treats children should have a variety ofbehavior guidance approaches. The aim of this study was to examine the preference of children concerning thephysical appearance of dental injectors. It also aimed at assessing the influence of the type of injector preferred onthe cooperation of the child during local anesthesia administration.Materials and method: The study group consisted of 67 children between the ages of 4 and 11. The children weredivided into two groups. Group 1 were shown a plastic injector without stickers applied on the barrel and a metaltype injector. Group 2 were shown a plastic injector with stickers applied on the barrel and a metal type injector. Thechildren were asked which type they preferred to be used to give them local anesthesia. The reaction of the childwas observed and rated with code from 1 to 4 on Frankl scale adapted for local anesthesia.Results: Among group 1 34.5% preferred the plastic injector while 65.5% preferred the conventional metal injector.Among group 2 78.9% preferred the plastic injector while 21.1% preferred the conventional metal injector. Thecooperation of children of group 1 who received local anesthesia by the plastic syringe, mostly code 3 and 4 (70%)while the positive cooperation of those who received anesthesia by the metal syringe was 58%. In group 2 the plasticinjector was more preferred and children who showed cooperation of code 3 and 4 during the procedure of localanesthesia administration formed 73.3% of the group. Children who chose the metal injector showed cooperationmostly of code 1 (37.5%).Conclusion: The physical appearance of the dental injector is important to children and clearly effectedcooperation of the child during local anesthesia administration.Key words: dental injectors, physical appearance, cooperation, children. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2011;23(1):131-135).

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