Evaluating Anxiety Levels and Pain Perception while Administering Local Anesthesia Using Conventional Insulin...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Pain Management
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Pain management during local anesthesia (LA) is vital for children's cooperation and comfort in dental settings.
• Conventional syringes can cause significant discomfort, necessitating child-friendly alternatives.
• The Star Pen and insulin syringes offer potential improvements through finer needles or controlled delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare children's pain responses to LA administration using conventional syringes, insulin syringes, and the Star Pen.
• To evaluate and identify the most comfortable and child-friendly method for pediatric dental anesthesia.

Main Methods:

• 45 children (4-10 years) were randomly assigned to receive LA via Star Pen, insulin syringe, or conventional syringe.
• Pain and anxiety were assessed using the Animated Emoji Scale, FLACC scale, and physiological parameters (pulse rate, SpO2).

Main Results:

• Both Star Pen and insulin syringe groups reported significantly lower anxiety and pain perception than the conventional syringe group.
• The Star Pen demonstrated superior results, followed by the insulin syringe, in minimizing discomfort.

Conclusions:

• The Star Pen and insulin syringe are more effective than conventional syringes in reducing anxiety and pain during pediatric LA.
• The Star Pen is a highly effective, child-friendly option for local anesthesia in pediatric dentistry.