Comparison of pain perception in child patients during IANB using local anaesthetic solution at room temperature and 42°C.

Local anaesthetic cause pain during administration into soft tissue and this leads to stress and discomfort especially in child patients. This pain can be reduced easily and effectively by heating the local anaesthetic solution up to body temperature or above.Warming lidocaine causes no chemical denaturation or no diminished stability stated by one lidocaine manufacturer (Elkins-Sinn, Inc, Cherry Hill, NJ). This method reduces burning sensation in orthography, angiography and other interventional procedures by warming lidocaine to 43°C before infiltrative injection. We are planning to use this method to reduce discomfort during nerve block in pediatric dental patients.

This study will  include 60 child patients of age 6-10 years in which pain perception will be  evaluated during Inferior alveolar nerve block using warm local anaesthetic at 42°C. During first visit  the children will receive IANB block consisting of  lidocaine 2% and epinephrine 1:2,00,000 at room temperature. At the second visit, the contralateral side will receive local anaesthetic warmed at 42°C.  15 cm long visual analogue scale will be used to determine the pain from injection given.

We are hopeful that this method will work on pediatric dental setting also.