Comparative Evaluation of Pain Assessment Using Star Pen and Conventional Injection Technique during Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Injection in Children Aged between 6 and 10 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial

tissue trauma and pain.Their pen-like design also lessens anxiety and improves cooperation.5,6 The Woodpecker Star Pen is a wireless CCLAD device that delivers anesthetic at controlled speeds using an algorithm, depositing solution ahead of the needle to reduce pain and enhance comfort.7,8 Its ergonomic design allows precise injections, making it suitable for pediatric patients. IntroductIonDental caries remain one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children worldwide.Despite being largely preventable, untreated caries can cause pain, infection, impaired function, and reduced quality of life.Early diagnosis and intervention are essential to prevent disease progression.However, many dental procedures cause discomfort, making effective pain management crucial in pediatric dentistry.Pediatric dentistry addresses the unique physiological and psychological needs of children, with managing dental anxiety and ensuring cooperation being key challenges.Minimizing procedural pain fosters trust, reduces fear, and promotes positive dental experiences, thereby promoting future compliance.Local anesthesia (LA) is the cornerstone of pain control, but needle fear is a significant barrier, often resulting in uncooperative behavior and treatment avoidance.1,2 Strategies to reduce injection pain include topical anesthetics, buffering agents, distraction techniques, and controlling injection speed.3 Slower, steady anesthetic delivery significantly decreases discomfort, yet manual control is challenging.4 Computercontrolled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD) systems regulate flow and pressure, providing consistent slow injections that reduce 1-