DentalVibe® versus lignocaine hydrochloride 2% gel in pain reduction during inferior alveolar nerve block in children

BACKGROUND: Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is the most common, painful, and anxiety-provoking procedure involving needle insertion for anesthetic solution deposition. DentalVibe® (DV) delivers vibration at a sustained frequency as a counter-stimulation to the site of injection, thereby alleviating pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of DV and lignocaine hydrochloride 2% gel (Lox 2% jelly) in pain reduction during IANB in children. METHODS: A split-mouth randomized clinical trial was designed with a sample of 60 children (age, 6 to 12 years) requiring bilateral IANB for various dental procedures; DV was used while administering IANB and Lox 2% jelly was used as the topical anesthetic before administering IANB at subsequent appointments. During both appointments, pain perception was measured using the sound, eye, motor (SEM) scale and Wong-Baker faces pain rating scale (WBFPRS); oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) and pulse rate were measured using a pulse oximeter before, during, and after the IANB procedure. The obtained values were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Wilcoxon test was used for intergroup comparison, and Friedman test, for intragroup comparison of measured variables at different treatment phases. RESULTS: The medians and interquartile ranges of the WBFPRS scores recorded during the IANB procedure for DV and Lox 2% jelly were 2 (2–4) and 2 (0–2), respectively (P < 0.05). The SEM scale scores, mean SpO(2), and pulse rate did not show any significant differences during the IANB procedure between both treatments. CONCLUSION: Both DV and Lox 2% jelly were found to be effective in pain reduction during IANB in children.