# Comparison of different behaviour management techniques while administering injectable la with minimum pain perception and anxiety in children

## TL;DR

This study compares techniques to reduce pain and anxiety in children during dental injections, finding virtual reality most effective.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that 3D virtual reality is significantly more effective than audio, audiovisual, and stress ball methods in reducing pediatric dental anxiety and pain.

## Key findings

- Virtual reality group showed highly significant reduction in anxiety and pain scores compared to other groups (p<0.001).
- Virtual reality group had the highest behavior scores (5.10) compared to audio (1.70), audiovisual (3.96), and stress ball groups (2.66).
- Virtual reality emerged as the most effective method for alleviating anxiety and pain in pediatric dental patients.

## Abstract

Dental anxiety is a frequent reason for reluctance in young children, leading to challenges in delivering effective dental treatment due to their uncooperative behavior. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of different behaviour management techniques while administrating injectable LA with minimum pain perception and anxiety in children.

One hundred and twenty children, aged 4 to 10 years, were equally and randomly assigned to four groups. In Group I, local anesthesia was administered while using wireless headphones. For Group II, local anesthesia was administered using a mobile phone with earpieces. Group III received local anesthesia while incorporating the 3D virtual reality eyewear method and Group IV received local anesthesia while utilizing the stress ball technique. Pain and anxiety assessments were conducted using various scales and Physiological parameters such as pulse rate and oxygen saturation levels were recorded and the resultant data were systematically tabulated for subsequent statistical analysis.

Virtual reality group showed highly significant result in terms of lowering anxiety and pain scores compared to audio, audio visual, stress ball groups (p<0.001). Virtual group (5.10) also displays significantly highest behavior scores than the audio (1.70), audio visual group (3.96) and Stress Ball groups (2.66).

The virtual reality group emerged as the most effective method in alleviating anxiety and pain experienced by pediatric dental patients.

Key words:Pain management, Anxiety, Distraction, Virtual reality device, Stress ball, Audiovisual, Audio.