Evaluating Child Behavior and Preference Toward NumBee and Traditional Syringe (a Randomized Clinical Trial)

BACKGROUND: Local anesthetics are the gold standard for pain control in dentistry. Most patients still view the “needle” as a source of anxiety and disruptive behavior rather than relief. The patient’s cooperation and comfort level will increase with the administration of painless local anesthetic injection using appropriate technique. The purpose of this study was to assess the patient cooperation and behavior after receiving local anesthesia injection and to compare patients’ acceptance and preference of needleless NumBee anesthetic delivery device to conventional dental syringe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 non-fearful 6-8-year-olds who had never been to the dentist were selected for the study using a split-mouth design. They underwent a simple class I restoration on both mandibular permanent first molar teeth in two separated dental visits. The Frankl behavior rating scale was used to assess patient behavior following injection. Patients expressed their preference and acceptance of the used syringes by answering a questionnaire. RESULTS: After injection by either method, 25 patients had Frankl behavior rating score of 4. Patients that had a negative response with the traditional method, showed a score of 2, following NumBee injection (p=0.035). CONCLUSION: Patients accepted both methods, and NumBee may induce less fear, with minimum stinging and unpleasant taste.