Comparison of Parental Perceptions and Oxygen Saturation Response to Papoose Board and Comfy Wrap Restraints in Pediatric Dental Procedures: A Crossover Study.

AIMS AND

BACKGROUND

Physical restraint is necessary in pediatric dentistry to manage an uncooperative child. Although the Papoose Board is widely utilized, it has been implicated in causing psychological and physiological issues. The Comfy Wrap is a new option that aims to provide a more child-centered and comfortable environment. This study compared the two techniques based on parental perception and the physiological stress reaction assessed by oxygen saturation (SpO₂) levels.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A randomized crossover trial was carried out among 40 patients aged 3-7 years needing protective stabilization for dental treatment. They were equally allocated to two groups: group A was given the Papoose Board first and then the Comfy Wrap; group B was given the interventions in reverse order. Parental views were obtained on a structured questionnaire following each intervention. Children's SpO₂ levels were measured before, during, and after every restraint application. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics, repeated measures ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc tests.

RESULTS

A greater percentage of parents in each group preferred the Comfy Wrap to the Papoose Board (41.1% in group A and 56.25% in group B). Parents rated the Comfy Wrap as less scary and acceptable. SpO₂ values changed significantly with time in group A (p < 0.001), although no significant difference was found between restraint methods (p = 0.074). The Comfy Wrap showed greater physiological stability for group B with a significant intervention effect (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Although both the Papoose Board and the Comfy Wrap enabled successful pediatric dental treatment, the Comfy Wrap was always more accepted by parents and was linked to improved physiological stability, as indicated by SpO₂.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In pedodontics, the Comfy Wrap was found to be a more acceptable and physiologically superior restraint technique than the Papoose Board.