Effectiveness of Pre-administered Natural Sweet-tasting Solution (Honey) for Decreasing Pain of Needle Insertion

Effectiveness of Pre-administered Natural Sweet-tasting Solution (Honey) for Decreasing Pain Associated With Dental Injections (Infiltration) Prior to Extraction in 6-8 Years Old Children In Comparison to Topical Anesthesia. (RCT)

This study aims to assess Effectiveness of Pre-administered Natural Sweet-tasting Solution (honey) for Decreasing Pain Associated with Dental Injections (infiltration) prior to dental extraction in 6-8 years old healthy Children (first dental visit) In comparison to topical anesthesia.

The administration of local anesthetics is one of the most dreaded or anxiety-inducing triggers in a dental setup. Patients, particularly children, may be fearful of dental injections, which may prevent them from seeking dental treatment. Even though profound local anesthesia aids in the treatment of pediatric patients in terms of reducing their anxiety and pain during restorative and surgical procedures, the fear of needles has been cited as a barrier to develop proper dental care. Numerous techniques have been researched in an attempt to minimize the pain and distress associated with these dental injections, varying from localized methods to distraction techniques. The localized methods include application of topical agents, altering the rate of injection, increasing the pH of local anesthetics by buffering and pretreatment with lasers. Instruments such as CCLA System (computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system) and dental vibe are also available to make dental injections more comfortable. Studies have found that sweet flavored solutions, mainly 30% sucrose, given orally prior to cutaneous procedures can reduce discomfort in neonates undergoing heel sticks and venipuncture. Effectiveness of sucrose in the treatment of, procedural pain in newborns and babies has been verified in a Cochrane reviews.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children within the age group 6 to 8 years were selected since the cognitive skills necessary for the use of visual analogue scale for pain assessment have not developed in children younger than 6 years of age.
2. Mobile deciduous second molars bilaterally that could be treated under infiltration anesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of allergy to any components of local anesthetic agents used during the study.
2. Dental or dentoalveolar abscess.
3. Presence of any underlying systemic disease.
4. Immunocompromised patients.