Buffered Local Anesthetic

Effect of Buffered Anesthetic on Physiological Reactions During Dental Injection in Young Children Under Deep Sedation: A Prospective, Single Visit, Randomized, Double-Blind Split Mouth Study

The purpose of this research study is to compare responses in children during dental injections of local anesthetic (used for numbing), while children are under deep sedation (breathing on their own, often with a loss of consciousness). Two types of local anesthetic will be used--one will be buffered (by adding a salt solution to make it less acidic), while the other will be plain, without anything added. Previous studies have shown that the addition of the buffer solution can improve comfort during a dental injection.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy children or children with mild controlled systemic illness
• Treatment planned to receive restorative work on both sides of mouth (left vs right) under deep sedation, requiring local anesthetic administration

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children present with any illness or symptoms that can alter pain perception such as pain in head and neck area due to TMJ disorders, arthritis, autoimmune diseases
• Antibiotic premedication requirement
• History of taking medications (NSAIDs, narcotics, sedatives, and antianxiety or antidepressant medications) that may affect anesthetic assessment
• Has signs of dental pain, odontogenic abscess or facial cellulitis
• Allergy to local anesthetics or sulfites