Injection pain: comparison of three mandibular block techniques and modulation by nitrous oxide:oxygen.
BACKGROUND
The authors conducted this study to compare the pain on injection of the three mandibular block techniques and to determine the effect that the delivery of nitrous oxide:oxygen, or N2O:O2, had on this pain.


METHODS
Based on sample size calculation, the authors randomly assigned 60 subjects to receive either local anesthetic alone or local anesthetic with N2O:O2 titrated to effect. Each subject received two mandibular block injections bilaterally from three possible pairings: Gow-Gates/standard block, standard block/Vazirani-Akinosi or Gow-Gates/ Vazirani-Akinosi. Subjects scored their pain using a 100-millimeter visual analog scale immediately after each injection. The authors analyzed data using analysis of variance, Student t tests and multiple regression analyses.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in pain on injection among the three injection techniques. The subjects in the group that received N2O:O2 and the local anesthetic demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain on injection compared with subjects in the group that received the local anesthetic only (P < .05). When N2O:O2 was used, there was a statistically significant decrease in pain with the first injection (P < .0005), an effect not seen with the second injection.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant difference in pain among the three mandibular block techniques. N2O:O2 can reduce pain on the first injection given, but this effect is not seen subsequently.


CONCLUSIONS
The decision to select one of the three mandibular block techniques should be based on factors other than pain on injection. N2O:O2 reduces pain on the first injection only.
Jacobs
Shawn
S
University of Toronto, Canada.
Haas
Daniel A
DA
Meechan
John G
JG
May
Sherry
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018401:Sample Size
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen