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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)
Published on: January 27, 2010
Comparative Assessment of Behavior, Anxiety, Pulse Rate, and Pain Perception in Children Using Different Local
Sonam Yadav1, Natasha Gambhir1, Nidhi Gupta1
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Santosh Dental College and Hospital, Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background:
Local anesthesia (LA) remains fundamental to effective pain control in invasive dental procedures. However, the act of administering LA can itself be a source of anxiety, particularly among pediatric patients, which may in turn influence their pain perception. Technological advancements, such as computer-controlled LA delivery systems, have emerged as innovative alternatives designed to enhance patient comfort and potentially reduce the pain and anxiety associated with conventional injection techniques.
Aim:
To compare and evaluate behavior, anxiety, pulse rate, and pain perception in children using StarPen, VibraJect, and conventional syringe systems.
Materials And Methods:
In this parallel-group randomized controlled trial, a total of 150 children (aged 6-10 years) undergoing inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) were randomly divided into three groups (n = 50 each): Group A (StarPen), group B (VibraJect), and group C (conventional syringe). Pain, anxiety, pulse rate, and behavior were evaluated during and after injection using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale, Venham's Anxiety Scale (VAS), a pulse oximeter, and Frankl's Behavior Rating Scale (FBRS), respectively.
Results:
StarPen demonstrated the most favorable outcomes, significantly reducing pain (mean FLACC: 1.19 ± 0.55), anxiety (mean Venham: 0.58 ± 0.54), and pulse rate (mean: 105.09 ± 4.37 bpm) compared to VibraJect and conventional syringe groups (p < 0.001). Behavioral assessments showed the least post-treatment decline in cooperation with StarPen, suggesting improved procedural tolerance. VibraJect also offered measurable benefits over traditional syringes but was less effective than StarPen.
Conclusion:
StarPen demonstrated superior outcomes across all evaluated parameters, supporting its efficacy as a behavior-management tool and pain-minimizing device in pediatric dentistry.
