ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study to evaluate the effectiveness of pain control by employing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) over conventional injectable local anesthesia for children requiring restorative procedures under rubber dam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study design considered was the split mouth design, in experiment (right) side, dental procedures under rubber dam was performed under TENS and in control (left) side, dental procedures under rubber dam was performed under conventional injectable local anesthetic (LA). The level of comfort and discomfort experienced during TENS and conventional LA was determined using visual analog scale (VAS) and heart rate. RESULT: Increase in mean heart rate associated with TENS (0.78%) was significantly less compared to increase in heart rate with administration of conventional local anesthesia (11.78%). In VAS, the mean values for pain indicate that minimum pain was felt with TENS, which was closely followed by LA. CONCLUSION: TENS can offer many safer and psychological advantages and is a valuable alternative to conventional LA for children.
ABSTRACT
Pediatric mandibular fractures are often the sequelae of facial skeletal injuries in patients with trauma and frequently require hospitalization. Due to the retrusive mid-face position relative to the calvarial prominence, facial fractures are rare in children younger than 5 years of age. Although rare, they most often occur as a result of motor vehicle accidents. The purpose of this report is to describe the management of a mandibular symphysis fracture in a 3-year-old boy with displacement between the primary mandibular left central and lateral incisors. The fracture was reduced and the fractured segment was stabilized under general anesthesia with a prefabricated acrylic splint with circum-mandibular wiring. Children have greater osteogenic potential and faster healing rates than adults; therefore, anatomic reduction in children is best accomplished earlier.
