Behavioral and physiological changes in children with Down syndrome using mechanical and chemomechanical (Carisolv™) caries removal methods

Abstract

This study compared behavioral and physiological changes during caries removal in children with Down syndrome when using a chemomechanical caries removal technique (Carisolv) and a conventional method of caries removal. Twenty children (ASA class 1) between 5 and 12 years of age participated in the study; 10 subjects had Down syndrome and 10 were healthy controls. The behavioral and physiological assessments were carried out during five stages of dental treatment: (1) 5 minutes before local anesthesia; (2) during local anesthesia; (3) during caries removal; (4) immediately after restoration; and (5) 5 minutes after the end of the treatment. The caries removal step resulted in the greatest behavioral and physiological changes. Except for oxygen saturation, statistically significant differences in heart rate (p<0.05) were recorded between children with Down syndrome and the control children.

Physiological and Behavioral Manifestations of Children and Teenagers with Down Syndrome During the Dental Appointment: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

“…The effects of dental appointments on physiological and behavioral parameters of individuals with DS are rarely reported in the literature. Some authors compared the behavior and HR of individuals with DS who underwent two different dental caries removal protocols [21]. The results of this study demonstrated that the dental appointment promoted more significant physiological changes in the DS group, with emphasis on the increase of HR and a higher occurrence of "tense" behavior, a classification equivalent to uncooperative in the behavioral scale adopted in this study.…”