Conventional Versus Computer-Assisted Dental Anesthesia

University of Montemorelos29 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this clinical trial was to compare two methods of delivering local dental anesthesia in undergraduate dental students: a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD) system and a conventional dental syringe. The study evaluated whether the computer-controlled system reduced pain during the administration of local anesthesia compared with the conventional technique. The main questions this study aimed to answer were: Does a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system reduce pain during maxillary buccal infiltration compared with a conventional dental syringe? Are there differences in physiological responses (blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation) between the two anesthetic delivery methods? Which anesthetic delivery method do participants prefer after experiencing both techniques? Would participants recommend their preferred anesthetic delivery method to others? Participants attended two study visits approximately one week apart. Each participant received local anesthesia using both delivery methods in a randomized order, serving as his or her own control. Pain, dental anxiety, physiological parameters, anesthetic delivery preferences, and willingness to recommend the preferred method were assessed during the study.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Anesthesia, Local

Computer-Controlled Local Anesthetic Delivery SystemDEVICE

Local anesthetic was administered using a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD) system with 2% lidocaine containing 1:100,000 epinephrine through a 27-gauge short dental needle for maxillary buccal infiltration anesthesia. The device controlled the flow rate throughout anesthetic administration according to the manufacturer's operating protocol.

Conventional Aspirating Dental SyringeDEVICE

Local anesthetic was administered using a conventional aspirating dental syringe with 2% lidocaine containing 1:100,000 epinephrine through a 27-gauge short dental needle for maxillary buccal infiltration anesthesia. Anesthetic administration followed the conventional manual injection technique.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Undergraduate dental student enrolled in the Local Anesthesia course at the Montemorelos University School of Dentistry. * Aged 18 years or older. * Able and willing to provide written informed consent. * Willing to attend both study periods. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or lactation. * Known allergy or contraindication to lidocaine or epinephrine. * Systemic conditions contraindicating elective dental treatment. * Use of medications that could alter cardiovascular responses. * Medical condition that could interfere with pain perception or study participation.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain perception during local anesthetic administration

Pain perceived during maxillary buccal infiltration anesthesia administered with a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system or a conventional aspirating dental syringe. Pain was assessed immediately after each intervention using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicated "no pain" and 10 indicated "worst imaginable pain".

Time frame: Immediately after each anesthetic administration

Secondary Outcomes

Dental anxiety

Dental anxiety was assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS; score range: 5-25). Higher scores indicate greater dental anxiety. Assessment was performed before the first study intervention.

Time frame: Baseline (before the first study intervention)

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Blood pressure was measured using an automated monitor before, during, and immediately after anesthetic administration.

Time frame: Before, during, and immediately after each anesthetic administration

Heart rate

Heart rate was measured using a pulse oximeter before, during, and immediately after anesthetic administration.

Time frame: Before, during, and immediately after anesthetic administration

Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂)

Peripheral oxygen saturation was measured using a pulse oximeter before, during, and immediately after anesthetic administration.

Time frame: Before, during, and immediately after anesthetic administration

Participant-reported preferred anesthetic delivery method

Participants selected their preferred anesthetic delivery method (computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system or conventional aspirating dental syringe) after experiencing both interventions.

Time frame: Immediately after completion of the second study intervention

Willingness to recommend the preferred anesthetic delivery method

Willingness to recommend the preferred anesthetic delivery method was assessed using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; 0-10), where 0 indicated "not at all willing to recommend" and 10 indicated "extremely willing to recommend." Higher scores indicate greater willingness to recommend. Assessment was performed after completion of the second study intervention.