Acceptance and Efficacy of Different Topical Anesthetic Agents in Children: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Due to local anesthetic injection, many of the children turn upto a negative behaviour due to fear of pain. Pain and anxiety can reduce the efficacy of anesthesia in children. This fear of anesthesia is often manifested as a behaviour management problem. Topical anesthesia is widely advocated in paediatric dentistry practice to reduce pain and anxiety. Various agents are used as topical anesthetic agents prior to administration of local anesthesia. However there is sparse evidence showing the preferences of children over them and their pain perception for it. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of different topical anesthetic agents chose by children and their effect on pain perception. Methodology: This observational study included 120 children aged 6-10 years. All 120 children underwent the application of 4 topical agents in each of the quadrant. These were FS (Flavoured spray), US (Unflavoured spray), FG (Flavoured Gel), UG (Unflavoured gel). FS was used in maxillary right side, US was used in maxillary left side, FG used in mandibular right side and UG was used in mandibular left side. The child’s pain response was assessed using Visual analogue pain scale. Results: Flavoured spray (0.43) and flavoured gel (0.51) have shown lower mean scores in the pain assessment, and were statistically significant (p=0.031). There was no significant difference seen between the unflavoured gel and spray. However in case of preferences, the flavoured gel was the most preferred agent followed by flavoured spray, unflavoured gel and unflavoured spray. Conclusion: Flavoured spray is the most effective agent for pain control while flavoured gel is the most preferred agent amongst children of this population.