Dental Students Perception of Challenges Faced by Them during Administration of First Dental Injection in Patients

Abstract

Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to note the dental students perception of challenges faced by them administering first dental injection in patients when they were undergraduates and the need to introduce simulator training for dental injections for undergraduates. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 dental students participated in the study. The study was conducted in national accredited A+ dental college of India, where the participants were presently pursuing postgraduation. The participants had completed their undergraduate programs from different dental colleges of India. The participants were provided with a validated structured questionnaire to note the challenges they faced when administering their first dental injection in patients when they were undergraduates if they had undergone any dental injection simulator training in dental colleges where they had completed their undergraduate program and the need of simulator training for dental injections. The data were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: During the administration of the first dental injection on patients, 82.5% of students were anxious. Students (100%) had not undergone any training for dental injections on simulators as undergraduates. Majority (85.8%) of students agreed that there is a need to introduce an inferior alveolar nerve block simulator for dental undergraduates. Conclusion: First dental injection in patients is associated with high anxiety levels in dental students. Mastering the skill of local anesthesia administration requires practice and time. Hence, the majority of the students agreed that including simulators for dental injections, especially for technically demanding blocks such as inferior alveolar nerve blocks at the undergraduate level, will make them less anxious and more confident.