Children who present to the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Dental Research and Application Center, and are deemed eligible for inclusion in the study based on routine clinical examination and radiographic evaluation, will be provided with written and verbal information regarding the purpose and scope of the research. Informed consent will be obtained from those children and their legal guardians who voluntarily agree to participate in the study.
The study plans to include 30 children aged between 6 and 12 years, who have no systemic diseases and present with Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) and carious lesions not extending to the pulp tissue in their maxillary permanent first molars.
A three-session treatment protocol will be administered to participants who meet the inclusion criteria and have signed the informed consent form. A minimum interval of one week will be maintained between sessions, and the sequence of interventions will be determined through randomization.
First Session:
In the first session, a detailed medical and dental history of the patient will be obtained. During the intraoral examination, teeth affected by MIH will be identified, and the degree of MIH as well as the presence of carious lesions will be evaluated through clinical and radiographic examination. All findings will be recorded in the patient data form.
In this session, no invasive procedures will be performed. The materials and methods to be used will be explained to the patient, and the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale will be applied to determine the preoperative anxiety level, serving as an acclimatization session.
Second Session:
The anesthesia method to be applied to the patient's upper right first permanent molar (tooth no. 16) in the second session will be determined using a randomization method. Before the administration of anesthesia, the technique of the procedure will be explained verbally to the pediatric patient; the first saliva sample will be collected, and pulse rate values will be measured and recorded using a pulse oximeter. The anesthesia method determined by randomization will be applied to tooth number 16. During anesthesia administration, the patient will be asked to evaluate the pain level experienced using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0 = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain). After anesthesia, the pulse rate will again be recorded, and the second saliva sample will be collected. The carious tissue of the affected tooth will be removed using a high-speed and low-speed handpiece. At this stage, the heart rate will also be measured and recorded using the pulse oximeter. At the end of the treatment, the third saliva sample will be collected, and the patient will be asked to evaluate the pain level experienced using the VAS. Saliva samples as well as immediately after treatment completion and stored at -20 °C until biochemical analysis.
Throughout the treatment, the patient's behavioral responses will be video recorded and objectively evaluated by an independent observer, blinded to the anesthesia method, using the FLACC scale. The need for additional anesthesia and the efficacy of the anesthesia will be assessed after treatment.
Third Session:
In the third session, the anesthesia technique will be changed, and anesthesia will be administered to the contralateral first molar tooth (in the symmetrical arch) with the same indication. The procedures performed in the second session will be repeated.
At the conclusion of this study, the comparison of anesthesia techniques used in the treatment of MIH-affected teeth in children will enable the identification of a minimally invasive and effective approach to anesthesia. It is well established that teeth affected by MIH exhibit an altered response to anesthesia due to hypersensitivity and structural changes in the enamel. This study aims to contribute to the existing gap in the scientific literature on this topic. The comparative evaluation of computer-assisted intraosseous and infiltration anesthesia techniques will facilitate evidence-based decision-making in clinical practice.
