Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this prospective, randomized, blinded study was to compare the pain
of injection and post-injection pain of the AMSA injection using the computer-assisted
Wand Plus® injection system versus a conventional syringe.
Study design
Using a crossover design, 40 subjects randomly received 2 blinded AMSA injections
using the Wand Plus® system and a conventional syringe, at 2 separate appointments. The AMSA injection
site was centered halfway between the midpalatine raphe and gingival margin of the
first and second premolars. The pain of needle insertion, anesthetic solution deposition
pain, and postinjection pain were recorded on a Heft-Parker VAS for the 2 AMSA injections.
Results
For needle insertion, 38% of the subjects had moderate/severe pain with the Wand Plus® and 34% moderate/severe pain with the conventional syringe, with no significant difference
between techniques. There was a significant difference for solution deposition pain,
with the conventional syringe causing more moderate/severe pain (42% conventional
vs. 25% for the Wand Plus®). Regarding postinjection pain, after numbness wore off there was no significant
difference between the Wand Plus® injection technique (0% moderate pain) and the conventional syringe technique (8%
moderate pain). Postinjection, approximately 8% to 10% of the subjects experienced
slight palatal swelling and 2% experienced temporary numbness. These problems resolved
quickly and were considered minor.
Conclusions
The AMSA injection, using the Wand Plus®, resulted in similar pain ratings for needle insertion as the conventional syringe
but statistically lower pain ratings upon anesthetic solution deposition. However,
the AMSA, using either the Wand Plus® or a conventional syringe, has the potential to be a painful injection. We found
the incidence of postinjection pain and sequelae was low with both techniques.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 9,
2004
Received in revised form:
December 15,
2003
Received:
October 24,
2003
Columbus, Ohio OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYFootnotes
☆This study was supported by Graduate Endodontic Research Funds and The Steven Goldberg Memorial Fund.
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
