Comparative efficacy of various topical anesthetics during dental injection in pediatric patients

INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized using the randomization online software https://www.randomizer.org/. A simple randomization method was applied to randomly allocate patients into 3 groups in a ratio of 1:1:1. This was a triple‐blind trial where patients, clinicians, and data analysts were blinded to which experimental arms patients were allocated. The participants were randomly assigned into 3 groups. The first group received 20% benzocaine gel (control group). The second group received 8% lidocaine gel. The third group received 5% EMLA cream. Each topical anesthetic was applied in an amount of 0.3 mL using a cotton swab for 2 minutes at the site of IANB administration after drying the mucosa. A conventional IANB was performed using a dental carpule syringe (Dental carpule syringe, Dental Laboratorio) and a 27‐gauge X¾ inch needle (Disposable Dental Needles, J Morita). The needle was inserted between the pterygomandibular raphe and the coronoid notch then aspiration was performed, and 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:80,000 solution (2% Lidocaine HCL Injection, Huons Co., Ltd, Seongnam) was deposited. CONDITION: Dental pain ; Oral Health PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Pulse rate assessment. Participants’ pulse rate was recorded using a finger pulse oximeter (Alpha, Prolinx GmbH) at two time points: (1) at baseline, before IANB administration. (2) Immediately after IANB administration.; 2. Behavioral pain assessment scale. The face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) behavioral pain assessment scale was recorded during IANB administration.; 3. Pain rating scale. The Wong‐Baker FACES pain rating scale was used to gauge the pain experienced immediately after IANB administration. Children were presented with a range of faces on the scale and asked to select the one that accurately represented their pain level during the procedure.; SECONDARY OUTCOME: There are no secondary outcome measures INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Children aged 6‐10 years. 2. Healthy children. 3. Children with no previous dental experience. 4. Children requiring IANB for non‐urgent dental treatment.