Controlled Flow of Dental Anesthesia Solution to Reduce Pain and Anxiety - Abstract
Local anesthetic injection remains as one of the most anxiety-provoking aspects for both children and adult patients in dentistry, although anesthesia infiltration is needed for almost all dental procedures. Computerized anesthetic injection has been suggested as an alternative to classic dental anesthesia. This review set out to describe current available devices for a controlled flow of dental anesthesia solution to reduce pain and anxiety during its administration and address the supported evidence. Although few studies analyze the topic in detail so far, computer-controlled anesthetic delivery seemed to be statistically superior to traditional dental injections in terms of patient comfort. The use of computer controlled anesthetic may be considered a strategy to reduce patient´s fear and create a positive attitude towards dental treatment in the future. More randomized clinical trials are needed to draw more precise conclusions.