Comparative study of two different computer-controlled local anesthesia injection systems in children: a randomized

J C Abou Chedid1, M Salameh1, C El Hindy2

  • 1Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.

Insights

The Calaject device demonstrated superior pain reduction compared to the WAND™ STA during dental injections in children. This study highlights Calaject as a more comfortable option for pediatric local anesthesia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Local Anesthesia Delivery Systems
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Effective local anesthesia is crucial for pediatric dental procedures.
  • Minimizing pain perception during injections enhances patient cooperation and reduces anxiety.
  • Computer-controlled local anesthesia (CCLA) devices aim to improve injection comfort.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the pain perception associated with two CCLA devices: WAND™ STA and Calaject.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of Calaject versus WAND™ STA in reducing injection pain in young children.

Main Methods:

  • A split-mouth randomized clinical trial involving 30 children aged 6-12 years.
  • Local anesthesia was administered to the maxillary arch using both WAND™ STA and Calaject in separate sessions.
  • Pain was assessed using heart rate, the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and Sound, Eye, and Motor (SEM) body movements.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in pulse rate was observed between the two devices.
  • The Calaject device resulted in significantly lower Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores compared to WAND™ STA (p=0.017).
  • Significantly lower Sound, Eye, and Motor (SEM) scores indicated less body movement with Calaject (p=0.002), despite a longer injection duration (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Calaject was more effective than WAND™ STA in reducing pain perception during periapical injections in young children.
  • The findings suggest Calaject offers a more comfortable experience for pediatric patients undergoing local anesthesia.
Abstract

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