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Low-level Laser Therapy to Alleviate Pain of Local Anesthesia Injection in Children: A Randomized Control Trial
Bisma Saher Khan1, Jyothsna V Setty1, Ila Srinivasan1
1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, M R Ambedkar Dental College & Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Photobiomodulation (PBM) significantly reduced pain and anxiety during local anesthesia injections in children, outperforming topical anesthesia, cooling, and vibration. This drug-free method offers a superior alternative for managing injection pain in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Pain Management
- Biophotonics
Background:
- Local anesthesia injections are often a source of significant pain and anxiety for pediatric patients.
- Current methods for pain reduction, such as topical anesthesia, cooling, and vibration, have varying degrees of efficacy.
- Exploring novel, non-pharmacological approaches is crucial for improving patient experience during dental procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBM) against topical anesthesia, precooling, and vibration in reducing pain perception during local anesthesia administration in children.
- To assess patient-reported pain, behavioral responses, and physiological indicators of anxiety during the injection procedure.
Main Methods:
- A split-mouth randomized controlled trial involving 120 pediatric patients aged 6-13 years.
- Pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale.
- Behavioral assessment utilized the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale; pulse rate was monitored.
Main Results:
- Photobiomodulation (PBM) demonstrated significantly lower mean scores for pain, anxiety, and pulse rate compared to topical anesthesia, precooling, and vibration.
- Children reported minimal anxiety and exhibited good compliance when PBM was used.
- The observed differences in pain scores across the methods were statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a highly effective method for alleviating pain associated with local anesthesia injections in pediatric patients.
- PBM offers superior efficacy compared to traditional pain management techniques like topical anesthesia, precooling, and vibration.
- This drug-free approach provides a safe and effective strategy for managing procedural pain in children, enhancing patient compliance and comfort.
Aim:
The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare pain perception following photobiomodulation (PBM), topical anesthesia, precooling of the injection site, and vibration during administration of local anesthesia injection in pediatric patients aged 6-13 years.
Materials And Methods:
In this split-mouth study, a total of 120 patients between the age group of 6 and 13 years were selected and randomly divided into three equal groups with 40 subjects in each. Pain was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale after the administration of local anesthesia. Behavior during the procedure was assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale filled by the operator. Pulse rate was recorded before and during the administration of local anesthesia using pulse oximeter. After the procedure, patient compliance was also recorded using validated questionnaire. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results:
The study showed PBM exhibited the lowest mean scores of anxiety/pain using VAS, Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, FLACC scale and pulse rate as compared to precooling, vibration, and topical anesthesia. The differences in pain scores recorded were found to be statistically significant. Children were not anxious about the PBM method and exhibited good compliance (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Photobiomodulation (PBM) was found to be effective means of reducing injection pain, demonstrating much better efficacy than other tested methods.
Clinical Significance:
Photobiomodulation (PBM) can be used effectively to better manage procedures that patients frequently find painful without the need for prescription drugs, which frequently have several side effects.
How To Cite This Article:
Khan BS, Setty JV, Srinivasan I, et al. Low-level Laser Therapy to Alleviate Pain of Local Anesthesia Injection in Children: A Randomized Control Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(S-3):S283-S287.
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