Electronic dental anaesthesia for third inferior molar surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Electronic Dental Anaesthesia (EDA) for third molar surgery.


METHODS
Third molar extraction under regional anaesthesia (inferior alveolar and buccal nerve blocks) was performed in 2 groups of 30 patients each: group 1 = controls, group 2 = EDA treatment. Anxiety and pain level were reported by means of Visual Analogue Scale, postoperative pain description with the McGill Pain Questionnaire. A postoperative phone interview to all patients was made. Computerized randomization was performed; values expressed as mean+/-SD, data comparison evaluated by means of ANOVA and chi squared, statistical significance indicated by P values <0.05.


RESULTS
Features of the patients and surgical interventions were similar. EDA has determined lower pain level; moreover, the control patients has shown higher values of blood pressure and heart frequency. Phone interview has reported no amnesia about the perioperative events. A smaller number of EDA treated patients has reported pain during needle prick and/or intraoperatively; 80% of the EDA treated patients has reported a good opinion about the treatment, 93% of the patients would repeat the treatment, if needed.


CONCLUSIONS
EDA is a complementary analgesic technique for dental surgery. Cardiovascular changes, frequently observed during third molar extraction, were not present in the EDA treated patients. These data confirm that EDA is able to modify the physiologic responses to stressful events, blunting the adrenergic upset, maybe by means of an analgesic action on A, fiber and an increase of endorphins' central level. These results underline that the complementary use of EDA in the third molar extraction may be better than regional anaesthesia alone.
Zanette
G
G
Course of General and Special Odontostomatological Anaesthesia, Unit of Dentistry, Department of Medico-Surgical Specialties, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Facco
E
E
Bazzato
M F
MF
Berengo
M
M
Buin
F
F
Mariuzzi
M L
ML
Mazzuchin
M
M
Rigo
L
L
Sivolella
S
S
Viscioni
A
A
Manani
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D014081:Tooth Extraction