Key Points
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Emphasises the availability of alternative LA techniques, in order to provide our paediatric patients with optimum comfort and experience.
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Presents a randomised, controlled study reviewing the difference between the Wand and conventional LA in terms of the onset of anaesthesia and pain.
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Provides an understanding of the use of both the conventional and computerised LA technique in paediatric patients.
Abstract
Aim This prospective, randomised, parallel, controlled study was conducted firstly to compare the onset of local anaesthesia (LA) when using the conventional technique versus the Wand computer-controlled LA and secondly to assess the pain experience in children.
Method Thirty children were randomly allocated to the treatment group (Wand) or the control group (conventional). Lidocaine 2% with adrenaline (1:80,000) was given as a buccal infiltration. The onset of pulpal anaesthesia was tested using an analytic electric pulp tester (EPT). The pain experience during the LA was recorded using a modified visual analogue score (VAS).
Results Median time for the onset of LA was 6.30 minutes for the control and 7.25 minutes for the Wand group. Mean pain experience score for the control group was 9.78% as opposed to 8.46% in the Wand group. Statistical analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the onset of LA (p = 0.486) and the pain experience (p = 0.713) between the two groups.
Conclusion When placing a buccal infiltration on upper first permanent molars, the onset of LA and the pain experience was no different using the Wand and the conventional technique.
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Acknowledgements
Gratitude goes to the Leeds Dental Institute and Barnsley Community Dental Service for their help and support during the study and Theresa Munyombwe who helped with all statistics in this project.
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Kandiah, P., Tahmassebi, J. Comparing the onset of maxillary infiltration local anaesthesia and pain experience using the conventional technique vs. the Wand in children. Br Dent J 213, E15 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.988
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.988
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