The Assessment of Pain Sensation During Local Anesthesia Using a Computerized Local Anesthesia (Wand) and a Conventional Syringe
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the behavior reaction of children who received local anesthesia with a conventional syringe injection and a computerized device (Wand).
Methods: One hundred and two children ages 3 to 10 years were selected for this study. In 1 group there were 55 children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old, and in the other group there were 47 children ages 6 to 10 years old. They all needed at least 2 clinical sessions of operative procedures, preceded by a local anesthetic injection, 1 on either side of the same jaw. The local anesthesia was delivered using either the Wand or the traditional syringe. A random crossover design was used so that each child served as his/her own control.
Results: There were 25 girls and 30 boys in group A (mean 4.1±0.6 years), and 26 boys and 21 girls in group B (mean 7.2±1.3 years). Most of the children had a good reaction to both techniques of local anesthesia. No significant difference in either group was found between boys and girls. The children's reactions to injection in the mandible or the maxilla with the Wand or the conventional technique, regarding crying, facial expression, hands, legs and torso movements were similar with no statistically significant difference. There was no statistical difference when the maxillary infiltration was delivered to 1 or multiple teeth. No significant difference was found when the Wand was delivered during the first or second visit.
Conclusions: The results suggested there was no difference in the pain behavior of children during the administration of local anesthesia with a conventional injection or a computerized device when the operator was an experienced pediatric dentist. This was true for maxillary infiltration and mandibular block. For other techniques, such as palatal injection and periodontal ligament injection, more studies should be conducted.
Methods: One hundred and two children ages 3 to 10 years were selected for this study. In 1 group there were 55 children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old, and in the other group there were 47 children ages 6 to 10 years old. They all needed at least 2 clinical sessions of operative procedures, preceded by a local anesthetic injection, 1 on either side of the same jaw. The local anesthesia was delivered using either the Wand or the traditional syringe. A random crossover design was used so that each child served as his/her own control.
Results: There were 25 girls and 30 boys in group A (mean 4.1±0.6 years), and 26 boys and 21 girls in group B (mean 7.2±1.3 years). Most of the children had a good reaction to both techniques of local anesthesia. No significant difference in either group was found between boys and girls. The children's reactions to injection in the mandible or the maxilla with the Wand or the conventional technique, regarding crying, facial expression, hands, legs and torso movements were similar with no statistically significant difference. There was no statistical difference when the maxillary infiltration was delivered to 1 or multiple teeth. No significant difference was found when the Wand was delivered during the first or second visit.
Conclusions: The results suggested there was no difference in the pain behavior of children during the administration of local anesthesia with a conventional injection or a computerized device when the operator was an experienced pediatric dentist. This was true for maxillary infiltration and mandibular block. For other techniques, such as palatal injection and periodontal ligament injection, more studies should be conducted.
Keywords: LOCAL ANESTHESIA; PAIN; RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 May 2003
- Acquired after the merger between the American Society of Dentistry for Children and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in 2002, the Journal of Dentistry for Children (JDC) is an internationally renowned journal whose publishing dates back to 1934. Published three times a year, JDC promotes the practice, education and research specifically related to the specialty of pediatric dentistry. It covers a wide range of topics related to the clinical care of children, from clinical techniques of daily importance to the practitioner, to studies on child behavior and growth and development. JDC also provides information on the physical, psychological and emotional conditions of children as they relate to and affect their dental health.
- Information for Authors
- Submit a Paper
- Subscribe to this Title
- Membership Information
- Information for Advertisers
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content