Expression of pain and distress in children during dental extractions through drawings as a projective measure: A clinical study

Figure 1 Samples of children’s drawings. A: Ages 11 years; gender: boy; Franki: 4. FLACC score (LA): 2 (mild discornfort), FLACC score (Ext): 2 (mild discornfort); FPS-R score (LA): 6, FPS-R score (Ext): 2. Child drawing: Hospital score: 94 (average stress). The predominant colour in the drawing was black. The child included dental equipment in the drawing (syninge and dental chair) represented himself crying in the dental chair. B: Ages 12 years; gender: boy; Franki: 4. FLACC score (LA): 4 (moderate pain), FLACC score (Ext): 6 (moderate pain); FPS-R score (LA): 8, FPS-R score (Ext): 8. Child drawing: Hospital score: 67 (low stress). The child used only black colour and included dental equipment in the drawing including cabin partitions. C: Ages 13 years; gender: boy; Franki: 4. FLACC score (LA): 2 (mild discornfort), FLACC score (Ext): 1 (mild discornfort); FPS-R score (LA): 8, FPS-R score (Ext): 0. Child drawing: Hospital score: 92 (low stress). The child used only black colour and included dental equipment. It was an action picture showing extraction of his tooth by the doctor. Child omitted noses, ears and hair for himself. D: Ages 11 years; gender: boy; Franki: 3. FLACC score (LA): 3 (mild discornfort), FLACC score (Ext): 0 (mild discornfort); FPS-R score (LA): 2, FPS-R score (Ext): 0. Child drawing: Hospital score: 68 (low stress). The child used only small part of paper for his drawing and included dental equipment (syninge and dental chair). However, the predominant colour used green. E: Ages 12 years; gender: boy; Franki: 4. FLACC score (LA): 2 (mild discornfort), FLACC score (Ext): 0 (mild discornfort); FPS-R score (LA): 2, FPS-R score (Ext): 6. Child drawing: Hospital score: 49 (low stress). Child drew an action picture if he is undergoing extraction and also included dental equipment (Try with instruments arranged on it). Note that the noses and ears are missing in his human figures. F: Ages 10 years; gender: boy; Franki: 4. FLACC score (LA): 5 (mild discornfort), FLACC score (Ext): 0 (mild discornfort); FPS-R score (LA): 2, FPS-R score (Ext): 0. Child drawing: Hospital score: 64 (low stress). Child drew himself in a very happy mood, although he included dental equipment (extraction instrument and LA spray). FLACC: Faces, legs, activity, cry, consolability scale; FPS-R: Facial pain scale-revised; LA: Local anaesthetic administration; Ext: Extractions.