221 - Alleviation of Children’s Anxiety Using Buzzy during Injection of Dental Anesthesia

Alleviation of Children’s Anxiety Using Buzzy during Injection of Dental Anesthesia, Aryan N, Zhai G, Jackson JG, Cheon K, (The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL)

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Buzzy device, a non-pharmacological intervention, in mitigating anxiety levels among children undergoing dental treatments.

Methods: Sixty subjects, aged 3 to 13, scheduled for dental procedures at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and Children of Alabama Hospital, were randomly assigned to the Buzzy application group (30 subjects) or the control group (30 subjects without Buzzy) based on odd or even days. The Buzzy device was placed on subject's cheek or angle of mandible during local anesthesia administration. Monitoring heart rate and oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter occurred at pre-injection, during injection, and post-injection. The Frankl Scale assessed behavior, and statistical analysis involved the student’s t-test for continuous variables and the exact Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test for categorical variables.

Results: Significant differences in heart rate and the Frankl Scale were observed between the Buzzy application and control groups from pretreatment to during treatment (P < .0001). A significant difference in oxygen saturation was observed with Buzzy application post-treatment (P =.04). Subjects receiving inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia with Buzzy exhibited significantly lower anxiety levels (P < .0001). No significant differences were found in gender and age subgroups.

Conclusion: The Buzzy device effectively alleviates pediatric dental anxiety during local anesthetic administration, showcasing the potential for non-pharmacological anxiety control in pediatric dentistry.

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