Comparative assessment of pharmacological and nonpharmacological anxiety management in pediatric dentistry - An in vivo study

The effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological anxiety management techniques in pediatric patients is of interest. Sixty children (5–12 years) with Frankl negative behavior requiring local anesthesia for extraction were divided into four groups: Group 1 (N₂O sedation), Group 2 (oral midazolam with fruit juice), Group 3 (EFT), and Group 4 (no sedation). Anxiety levels (VAS), oxygen saturation, pulse rate (pulse oximeter), and blood pressure (sphygmomanometer) were measured. N₂O sedation proved most effective, with EFT being a promising non-pharmacological alternative. Combining both techniques can optimize pediatric patient management.