Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation combining the behavior modification technique for handicapped patients during dental treatment, and the relationship between the clinical effect and the developmental age of the patients. The subjects were 54mentally disabled patients, aged from 5 to 20, who could not receive routine dental treatment using the behavior modification technique, due to their the combative behavior.
The new behavior modification technique in this study encompassed three processes. Firstly, the patients received behavior modification using a face mask for inhalation sedation that had the pleasant sweet smell of vanilla essence. Secondly, the received the introduction to the dental situation using the behavior modification technique under conscious sedation (30% nitrous oxide/70% oxygen). Finally, they received the dental treatment using the behavior modification technique under conscious sedation (30% nitrous oxide/70% oxygen).
The clinical effect was evaluated during the dental treatment. The individidual developmental age was investigated using the Social Maturation Test.
The results were as follows;
1) Approximately 54% of the subjects received dental treatment behaving cooperatively as a result of this technique.
2) The cooperative patients during dental treatment had attained a higher developmental stage than that of uncooperative patients in the majority of the the items of the Social Maturation Test.
3) Approximately 72% of the patients who had attained the developmental stage of over 3 years of age with respect to developmental age, were able to receive dental treatment behaving cooperatively as a result of this technique. However, only 29% of the patients who did not attain the developmental stage of 3 years of age with respect to developmental age, were able to receive dental treatment behaving cooperatively as a result of this technique.
The results suggested when the handicapped patient attains over 3 years of age with respect to developmental age, the patient will have a high potential to change from the uncooperative to the cooperative patient during dental treatment using this technique.
