Comparison of a controlled injection pressure system with a conventional technique.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare a device that controls flow rate during injection through use of a foot pedal with a conventional atraumatic syringe injection technique. We determined the change from preinjection to postinjection anxiety, the pain perception, procedure tolerance, and anxiety about future injections.


METHODS
Dental injection anxiety questionnaires were completed by 80 endodontic patients immediately before and after administration of local anesthetic with the 2 experimental methods. Patients also completed visual analog scales to rate their pain perception during injection, their rating of the overall experience, and their anticipated anxiety about a future dental injection.


RESULTS
Patients experienced significantly lower overall postinjection anxiety and pain of injection and had significantly more positive overall experience ratings with the conventional technique than with the controlled-rate procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
A conventional atraumatic syringe injection technique was superior to a controlled injection pressure system in pain perception and procedure tolerance and in reducing postinjection dental anxiety.
Goodell
G G
GG
Naval Dental Center Southeast, Jacksonville, FLA. 32212-0074, USA.
Gallagher
F J
FJ
Nicoll
B K
BK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000523:psychology; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013594:Syringes
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine