Effect of magic trick on pain and anxiety of 5-7-year-old children during inferior alveolar nerve block and pulpotomy of mandibular primary molars: a cross over randomized clinical trial

This study aimed to assess effect of magic trick (MT) on pain and anxiety of 5–7 year-old children during inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) and pulpotomy of mandibular primary molars. This single-blind split-mouth crossover randomized clinical trial was conducted on 30 children aged 5–7 years who required pulpotomy of bilateral mandibular primary molars. The children were randomly assigned to 2 groups ( n = 15). Behavioral control was performed by the tell-show-do (TSD) technique alone in the first session, and TSD + MT in the second session in group (1) This order was reverse in group (2) The anxiety level was quantified by measuring heart rate (HR) with a pulse oximeter before and after IANB and pulpotomy. The Sound, Eye, Motor (SEM) scale was used to assess the behavior during IANB and pulpotomy treatment. The pain level was quantified by the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPRS) after IANB and after pulpotomy. Data were analyzed by the Chi-square test, ANOVA, and independent t-test (alpha = 0.05). The mean HR, WBFPRS score, and SEM score of children were significantly lower in the MT group than the TSD group during (SEM) and after (WBFPRS and HR) IANB and pulpotomy ( P < 0.05). The carryover effect was only significant on the WBFPRS score ( P < 0.05). the study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials under No. (IRCT20250209064689N18/04/2025)