Dental fear and anxiety are among the most common challenges encountered in pediatric dental practice and may negatively affect children's cooperation and acceptance of dental treatment. Local anesthesia injections are considered one of the main sources of pain and anxiety during dental procedures in children. Although pharmacological methods can be effective in managing pain and anxiety, they may not always be preferred due to potential side effects, limited applicability, and the possibility of increasing stress in children. Therefore, non-pharmacological behavioral management techniques, particularly distraction methods, are increasingly used in pediatric dentistry to reduce pain perception and anxiety. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effects of kaleidoscope use and cartoon distraction on pain, fear, and anxiety associated with local anesthesia injections in children undergoing dental treatment. The study will be conducted at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Dicle University. A total of 126 children aged between 7 and 12 years who require local infiltration anesthesia during dental treatment will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: the Kaleidoscope Group, the Cartoon Distraction Group, or the Control Group. Children in the kaleidoscope group will use a kaleidoscope during the local anesthesia injection, while children in the cartoon group will watch cartoons during the procedure. In the control group, local anesthesia will be administered according to the routine clinical procedure without any distraction technique. Pain, fear, and anxiety levels will be assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, the Children's Fear Scale, and the Children's Anxiety Scale-State. Behavioral responses will also be evaluated using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of simple and non-pharmacological distraction techniques in reducing pain and anxiety associated with local anesthesia injections in pediatric dental patients.
Age range
7 Years – 12 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Pain level during local anesthesia injection measured using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
Timeframe: Immediately after the local anesthesia injection