The use of the local analgesia syringe in children. Should it be kept out of sight? A clinical trial of two methods of presentation.

Aim: The study was carried out to determine whether showing a local analgesia (LA) syringe to a child would influence behaviour during subsequent administration of LA, as opposed to concealing it.
Materials and Methods: 25 children were randomly assigned to either a show (13) or no-show (12) group. The children were aged 4 years and 3 months to 8 years and 9 months, mean age 7 years and 9 months. One operator carried out all LA administrations. The procedure and dialogue were strictly standardised. Each child was filmed during LA administration. Three paediatric dentists scored the video recorded behaviours, using the Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale. The raters were blind as to which group the child belonged to.
Results: No statistical difference was found between the behaviour ratings of the no-show and the show groups during LA administration (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Overall, the behaviour of the children in the show group did not differ from the behaviour of children in the no-show group. Whether to show or not to show the LA syringe is probably dependent on the behavioural skills of the operator.