Assessment of a palatal approach-anterior superior alveolar (P-ASA) nerve block with the Wand® in paediatric dental patients

Abstract

Objectives. The purposes of the study were to compare the reaction of children while receiving local anaesthesia for anaesthetizing maxillary incisors with a computerized device Wand®: a periodontal ligament injection (PDLi) and a palatal approach-anterior superior alveolar (P-ASA) nerve block compared with a conventional buccal infiltration (CBi), and to assess the efficacy of the anaesthesia and children's reaction after treatment. Methods. One hundred and thirty-eight children aged 24-48 months participated in this study. Results. More children reacted negatively during injection while receiving the CBi and positively during the injection with the Wand®. After treatment, significantly more children scratched the upper lip and/or the nose or complained of numbness of the region after the CBi (P = 0.000). Conclusions. Same effectiveness was achieved with the Wand® and the CBi. Children displayed better behaviour during injection when they received local anaesthesia with the Wand® than they did when the CBi was used. They did not scratch the upper lip/nose and/or cried after treatment when they received the PDLi and the P-ASA, whereas they did when receiving a CBi. © 2006 BSPD and IAPD.