Preemptive Analgesia for Pain and Anxiety Control in Children With MIH

Molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a developmental enamel defect associated with post-eruptive breakdown, hypersensitivity, difficulty achieving effective anesthesia, increased dental anxiety, and a higher risk of restorative complications. Children with MIH require more frequent and complex dental care and often experience discomfort during treatment, negatively impacting their cooperation and oral-health-related quality of life. Preemptive analgesia-the administration of analgesics before starting dental procedures-has shown promise in reducing nociceptive transmission and improving anesthetic efficacy. Previous studies have evaluated the effect of ibuprofen on pain during dental procedures in MIH-affected children, but evidence remains limited, and anxiety-related outcomes have not been comprehensively assessed. This triple-blinded randomized controlled trial will include children aged 6-12 presenting with MIH and post-eruptive enamel breakdown but without carious lesions or prior restorations. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either ibuprofen 100 mg syrup or a matching placebo 30 minutes before treatment. All procedures will be performed under standardized conditions, including local anesthesia with articaine 4%, rubber dam isolation, and restorative treatment by trained pediatric dentists. Pain perception will be recorded using both objective and subjective metrics. Objective pain will be evaluated using the FLACC Behavioral Pain Scale during anesthesia and treatment. Subjective pain will be assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES scale at predefined time points before, during, and after treatment. Dental anxiety will be monitored using physiological indicators: heart rate and oxygen saturation measured with a pulse oximeter at baseline, during, and after the dental procedure. The primary objective is to determine whether preemptive ibuprofen reduces behavioral pain responses during treatment. Secondary objectives include assessing self-reported pain and physiologic anxiety measures. The findings aim to guide pediatric clinicians in improving pain control, reducing treatment-related anxiety, and enhancing the overall management of children with MIH.