EFFECT OF PRE-COOLING THE INJECTION SITE ON PAIN PERCEPTION IN PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Objective: To compare the mean Sound, Eye and Motor (SEM) score of pre cooling and topical application atinjection site in pediatric patients. Study Design: A quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Fatima Jinnah Dental College and Hospital, Karachi, from Sep to Dec 2017. Methodology: Sixty four paediatric patients aged between 8-12 who needed dental anaesthesia were randomlydivided into two groups A and B. Subjects in group A were applied topical anaesthesia at the injection site for one minute before needle penetration and in group B ice pack was applied for the same duration at the injection site. A designed questionnaire based on SEM scale was used to measure the patients‟ reaction. Independent-samples t-test was applied to compare the mean SEM score of both groups by taking p-value ≤0.05 as significant. Results: The mean sound, eye and motor (SEM) score was 5.22 ± 1.718 for group A and 3.28 ± 1.373 for group B;with statistically significant differences between both the groups (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Injection of local anaesthesia at a precooled site results in lesser pain and thus decreased childanxiety levels, more effective analgesia and increased patient comfort.