Assessment of Pain and Anxiety During Infiltration Anesthesia Using Dental Anesthesia Injector Versus Conventional Syringe in Pediatric Patients

This randomized controlled split-mouth clinical trial aims to assess pain and anxiety in pediatric dental patients during and immediately after the administration of local anesthesia using a dental anesthesia injector device compared to a conventional syringe.

The study will include healthy, cooperative children aged 6 to 8 years, each having at least one vital deeply carious maxillary primary molar with signs and symptoms of reversible pulpitis on each side of the maxilla requiring buccal infiltration anesthesia prior to pulpotomy.

Each child will receive both injection techniques on separate occasions, with random assignment of the injection method to either the right or left side (split-mouth design).

To evaluate pain and anxiety, the following tools will be used:

Pain: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Anxiety: Corah Dental Anxiety Scale Physiological measures: Heart rate and oxygen saturation levels, recorded using a pulse oximeter Data will be collected during and immediately after the injection. The aim is to determine whether the dental anesthesia injector provides a less painful and less anxiety-inducing experience compared to the traditional syringe method.

Inclusion criteria

• normal healthy patients (ASA I)
• Undergoing the first dental local anesthesia experience
• Presence of one at least vital deeply carious maxillary primary molar indicated for pulpotomy on each side of maxilla
• Score 3 or 4 of Frankl scale of child behavior

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of gingivitis, dental abscess, facial trauma/ injury
• Administration of analgesic 48 h before randomization
• Presence of allergy from local anesthesia