Vibrating toothbrush, ice, or topical anesthetic agent to reduce pain of local anesthetic injection in 5- to 12-year-old children undergoing dental procedures — a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Background
Application of topical anesthetic agent prior to injection is the most commonly used method to control initial needle penetration pain of local anesthetic injection. Ice and vibration stimulus application are other nonpharmacologic methods used to reduce painful sensations of injection. The present study aims to verify and compare topical anesthetic, ice pretreatment, and electric toothbrush as a vibratory device, to reduce the pain of local anesthetic injections.
Results
SEM (palatal) and FPS (palatal) scores were slightly higher in topical anesthetic group as compared to ice pretreatment or vibration group, but the differences were not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences among SEM (buccal) and FPS (buccal) scores in all the three groups.
Conclusions
Ice cooling and electric toothbrush-induced vibration were as effective as topical anesthetic for reduction in pain due to injection.
Trial registration
The CTRI number of the trial is CTRI/2021/03/032046.

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