EFFECTIVENESS OF NEWER DISTRACTION TECHNIQUE ON GAGGING REFLEX ON TAKING ALGINATE IMPRESSION IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS: A RANDOMISED CONTROL STUDY

Background: Children having anxiety due to dental treatment usually hesitate to seek timely dental treatment which may result in very poor oral health. This is the reason of complex and expensive dental treatment in the future. As a result, many behaviour guidance techniques have been used to foster positive dental attitude and provide welcoming atmosphere in dental operatory to paediatric patients.

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of distraction technique using two different types of hour glass on the severity of gagging, anxiety of patient and success of dental alginate impression taking in children between age 5-10 years.

Materials and Methods: 30 healthy children were selected for the study and were randomly divided into 3 groups with 10 children in each group. Group I was termed as the test group 1 where liquid gel based hour glass was used for distraction and in Group II- the test group 2, the sand based hour glass was used. Group 3 was the control group where no distraction was done. Childs anxiety was assessed using following parameters: Gagging-related Impression Success Scale (GISS), Gagging Severity Index (GSI), Facial Image Scale, Pulse rate and oxygen saturation.

Results: Distraction using hour glass is safe, noninvasive, successful and cost-effective method for gag reflex management in pediatric dentistry.

Conclusion: Liquid motion Hour glass diverted the childs attention by creating spellbinding visual spectacle, offering a tranquil and enchanting experience diverting their attention during stressful alginate impression, henceforth it should be considered as an alternative behavior management technique.