Comparison of Computer-Controlled Intraligamentary Local Anesthesia and Conventional Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Pain Management
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Dental extractions in children can cause significant pain and anxiety.
• Effective pain control is crucial for positive pediatric dental experiences.
• Comparing novel anesthetic delivery systems to traditional methods is essential for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare pain perception in children aged 5-9 during dental extractions.
• To evaluate intraligamentary anesthesia (ILA) delivered via a Computer-Controlled Local Anesthetic Delivery System (CCLADS) against the traditional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB).

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 60 healthy, cooperative children.
• Pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPRS) and the Sound-Eye-Motor (SEM) scale.
• Comparison of pain scores during anesthesia administration and the extraction procedure.

Main Results:

• CCLADS demonstrated significantly lower subjective pain scores (WBFPRS: 2.0 ± 2.2 vs. 6.9 ± 2.6, p < 0.001) during anesthesia delivery.
• Objective SEM scores were also significantly lower with CCLADS (3.7 ± 0.8) compared to IANB (5.7 ± 1.2, p < 0.001).
• No significant difference in SEM scores was observed between groups during the extraction itself.

Conclusions:

• Intraligamentary anesthesia (ILA) administered via CCLADS effectively reduces pain and discomfort during dental anesthesia in children.
• The CCLADS system provides a more comfortable anesthesia experience without compromising the effectiveness of the anesthetic block.
• This technology offers a promising alternative for improving pediatric dental patient comfort.