• Waleerat Sukarawan D.D.S., Grad.Dip.Sci. (Pediatric Dentistry), Ph.D. (Oral Biology)
• Issaya Boonadulyarat D.D.S., M.Sc. (Pediatric Dentistry)
• Rujira Puanaiyaka D.D.S., High.Grad.Dip. (Endodontics), Grad. Dip. Sci. (Pediatric Dentistry), Thai Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Objective To compare child response during local anesthetic injection between viewing and
non-viewing needle groups by rating the behaviors and change in heart rate.

Materials and methods Sixty pre-school children were equally divided into non-viewing and
viewing needle group. Video observations of the subjects' behavior during local anesthesia injection
were rated using modified Franklûs behavioral scale. The differences in behavioral rating between
groups were tested by Fisher's exact test. Change in heart rate in each subject was analyzed by
Mann-Whitney test. Characteristics of subjects were analyzed using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact
test. All statistic tests were done at 95 percent confident interval.

Results The differences in behavioral rating between non-viewing and viewing needle group showed
no statistical significance (Fisher's exact test, p = 1.000). There is no statistical significant difference in
change in heart rate between two groups (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.609).

Conclusion Both non-viewing and viewing needle techniques can be employed in 4-5-year-old
children. Appropriate child preparation before injection and right behavior management technique are
important factors in successful local anesthetic injection.

(CU Dent J. 2014;37:137-48)