Comparison of Maxillary Lateral Incisor Infiltration Pain Using the Dentapen and a Traditional Syringe: A Prospective Randomized Study

Journal of Endodontics Published:April 11, 2022

Abstract

Introduction

The anterior maxillary infiltration is one of the more painful dental injections. The Dentapen is an electronic syringe that utilizes computer-controlled delivery technology to administer dental local anesthesia at a slow controlled rate. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, single-blind study was to evaluate solution deposition pain of a maxillary lateral incisor infiltration using the Dentapen with the slow flow rate (1.8 mL/162 seconds) and ramp-up setting compared to a traditional syringe infiltration at a flow rate of 1.8 mL/60 seconds.

Methods

One hundred thirty adults were administered a maxillary lateral incisor infiltration with the Dentapen and a traditional syringe at two separate appointments in a single blind manner. The infiltrations of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine were given at a rate of 1.8 mL/162 seconds with the ramp-up feature for the Dentapen and 1.8 mL/60 seconds for the traditional infiltration. The pain of solution deposition was recorded on a visual analog scale. At the conclusion of the study, subjects selected their preferred injection technique. The data were analyzed statistically using paired t-tests, a mixed-effect model, and odds ratio.

Results

The pain of solution deposition was significantly less for the Dentapen injection than the traditional injection (p<0.001). With the Dentapen device, 16% experienced moderate pain and for the traditional syringe, 39% experienced moderate pain. Overall, 75% of subjects preferred the Dentapen injection over the traditional injection.

Conclusion

The Dentapen, using the slow flow rate and ramp-up mode, significantly reduced the pain of solution deposition for maxillary lateral incisor infiltrations.