TOPICAL APPLICATION OF LOCAL ANAESTHETIC GEL VS ICE IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS FOR INFILTRATION ANAESTHESIA.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Junaid Ahmed Desai,
14, Benson Cross Road,
Benson Town, Flat No. 22,
Inland Exotica, Apartment,
Bangalore-560046, Karnataka.
E-mail: junaidahmed2422@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Local anaesthetic injections are one of the most feared or anxiety-inducing stimuli in dental operatory. Due to the fear of pain attributed to injection of anaesthetic agents providing appropriate dental care in children is difficult. Various methods have been investigated to decrease pain perception during injection. Hence, the present study was directed towards reducing pain perception in pediatric patients by comparing the effect of cooling the injection site and use of local anaesthetic gel. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of topical cooling and the use of local anesthetic gel before infiltration anesthesia in reducing pain in pediatric patients undergoing dental extractions in the maxillary anterior region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical trial was used to investigate pain perception in 100 healthy pediatric patients in the age group of 8 to 12 years who required infiltration anaesthesia for bilateral maxillary primary anterior teeth extraction. Before infiltration anaesthesia precooling was done on right side, whereas on the left side local anaesthetic gel was applied. The patients were asked to individually rate their pain experience on each side using the visual analogue scale. Scores were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using Student’s t test. Statistical significance was defined at P<0.001. RESULTS: The results of the present study, showed a statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.001), with greater pain reduction in the ice group. CONCLUSION: Pre cooling injection site before infiltration anaesthesia significantly reduced the pain perception in pediatric patients when compared to local anaesthetic gel. Pre cooling of the injection site before infiltration anesthesia is an easy, reliable, and effective technique with no additional cost and can be beneficial to apply to all pediatric patients to reduce discomfort and facilitate clinical management.

KEYWORDS: Precooling, Local anaesthetic gel, Infiltration anaesthesia, Pain perception.