Comparative Assessment of Anxiety during Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block under Nitrous Oxide + Oxygen and 6Oxygen Inhalation Sedationin Children Aged 6–12Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Today, dental treatment is easily accessible to most part of the population, yet the fear of pain and rejection in stressful situations makes it difficult to provide quality dental care.1 Dental fear and dental anxiety are often considered two sides of the same coin. Dental anxiety has clearly been shown to be associated with avoidance of regular dental care.2,3 Anxious children require approximately 20% more chair time than less anxious children,4 leading to management difficulties affecting the efficiency of treatment by more frequent interruptions, which may cause the treatment time to prolong.5 Children often show a negative response to the use of injection for LA. Inadequate LA has been reported in approximately 12% of all pediatric dental patients, increasing the need for supplemental analgesia and alteration of the anxiety response.6 To overcome the obstacles related to dental fear and anxiety, no pharmacological behavior management techniques are frequently utilized and are sufficient to gain a child’s confidence and permit the dentist to perform the procedures. However, it is difficult to attain the same in very fearful or anxious children, thus warranting the need for pharmacological behavior management techniques,