Original Article

Year : 2017 | Volume : 2 | Issue : 2| Page : 69-72

Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation in Alleviating Pain during Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Injections in Pediatric Dentistry

Shantanu R. Choudhari, Parikrama J. Solanki, Gaurav K. Vispute, Swati P. Goyal, Kanwaljeet D. Bharti, Bhawna S. Verma

Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Shantanu R. Choudhari,

Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Civil Hospital Campus, Asarwa, Ahmedabad ‐ 380 016, Gujarat, India.

E‐mail: shandent1@gmail.com

Abstract

Aim:

This study was carried out with the aim of comparing the efficacy of Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and 20% benzocaine gel priorto inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB)injectionsin alleviating pain in children of 8–12 years of age.

Materials and Methods:

The sample included fifty children in whom TENS application was done and fifty children in whom benzocaine topical application was done prior to administration of IANB injectionsfor the extraction of mandibular posterior teeth. Pain perception was evaluated using Wong–Bakers Facial Pain Rating Scale in both the groups. ANOVA test was used to evaluate the differences in mean pain scores between the groups.

Results:

The patients demonstrated significant reduction in pain during IANB when TENS was used with a mean pain score of 3.36 as compared to topical application of local anesthetic agent with a mean pain score of 4.76, indicating higher efficacy of TENS.

Conclusion:

The application of TENS was more comfortable and significantly reduced pain. TENS is a safe, reliable, and practical alternative to be used in pediatric dentistry.

Keywords: Benzocaine, inferior alveolar nerve block, TENS, Wong–Bakers Pain Scale

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article: Choudhari SR, Solanki PJ, Vispute GK, Goyal SP, Bharti KD, Verma BS. Efficacy of transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation in alleviating pain during inferior alveolar nerve block injections in pediatric dentistry. Int J Pedod Rehabil 2017;2:69-72.