Efficiency of Benzocaine 18% on reducing children's pain

Injection is one of the dental procedures which has the most negative reflection in dentistry and reducing its pain is one of the most serious problems in pediatric dentistry. Since the application of topical anesthetics is in contrast and doubts and there was no study done in Iran for it, this research was done to determine the effect of Benzocaine 18% on reducing pain during injection in children referred to dental faculty of Azad University, 2004. Methods & Materials: In this sequential randomized double blind clinical trial, the kids were in need of bilateral posterior infiltration of Maxilla for Cl I restoration. Child cooperation was classified within level 3 or 4 and they could not have any systemic disease or abcess & fistula in that area. The gels used were Benzocaine 18% and Fluoride (with the same color and flavor).Randomly one of the gels was applied for 2 minutes and after 10 minutes rest, the procedure was repeated contralaterally with the other gel. For measuring the pain CPS & VAS were used and the child was asked about the preference gel. Data of CPS & VAS were statistically analyzed by Mann Whitney and Chi Square, of preference by sign test. The relation between VAS & CPS was measured by Spearman. The study was performed on 6-12 year old kids (50 samples). Two of them were ignored due to instability in responses. In VAS, score of placebo gel was 551 and Benzocaine was 530.In CPS score of placebo gel was 519 and Benzocaine was 562 which were not significant by Mann Whitney. Amount of pain of “not & low” in 2 groups were similar and depending of “not & low” and “medium & severe” was insignificant by Chi square. As the preference, results show 3 cases (13%) preferred placebo and 9 cases (40%) Benzocaine which was insignificant by Sign test. Relation between VAS & CPS in control group was 0.21(21%) and in case group was 0.17(17%) which was poor depending on Spearman test. Benzocaine 18% did not reduce children’s pain during injection so it can be eliminated. Other investigations are necessary to specify replacement of other methods so that the best way to reduce the pain of injection will be known.