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June 5, 2026Open Access

Efficacy of Different Pediatric Local Anesthesia Delivery Techniques in Reducing Pain and Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Key Points

This trial aims to assess the effectiveness of various local anesthesia delivery techniques in reducing pain and anxiety in children during dental procedures.
Randomized clinical trial design assessing children aged 6-10 years
Comparison of Buzzy® device, Woodpecker StarPen, and conventional syringes
Ethical approval obtained from Institutional Human Ethics Committee and registered in Clinical Trials Registry.
Buzzy® device demonstrated significant pain reduction compared to conventional syringes (p<0.05)
Woodpecker StarPen showed a notable decrease in anxiety levels during anesthesia (p<0.01)
Overall findings suggest improved compliance and comfort for children undergoing dental procedures with alternative methods.

Abstract

of the Buzzy® device and the Woodpecker StarPen in comparison with conventional syringes, which serve as the standard method for managing pain and anxiety in children between ages of 6 and 10 years. MethodsThe Institutional Human Ethics Committee (IHEC) granted ethical clearance for the study after it was authorized by the Institutional Review Board (304/IHEC-1/2022).Every procedure was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (2013) ethical guidelines.The study is included in the Clinical Trials Registry (CTRI/2024/06/068658). IntroductIonEffective management of pain and anxiety during dental procedures is a significant concern in pediatric practice, as it shapes a child's perception of dental care. 1 Distress during treatment can make young children fearful and uncooperative, leading to avoidance of future care and negatively impacting long-term oral health. 2 Parents of anxious children often delay dental visits, leading to poorer oral health and increasing the need for invasive procedures requiring local anesthesia (LA), thereby making it an essential part of pain management in pediatric care. 3Although LA effectively controls pain, its administration can significantly influence the child's perception of pain and anxiety. 4Conventional syringe-based injections, though pharmacologically effective, can cause discomfort due to factors such as needle insertion trauma, rapid solution deposition, and poor needle control. 5,6o enhance comfort and compliance during LA administration, several alternative administration methods have been explored, including topical anesthetic gels, precooling the injection site, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), vibrotactile devices, and computer-controlled local anesthesia delivery (CCLAD) systems. 7891011 A vibrotactile innovation is the Buzzy® device, developed by Atlantabased pediatrician Dr Amy Baxter, which combines cold and vibration to block pain signals by stimulating sensory nerve fibers. 12Similarly, CCLAD systems such as the Woodpecker StarPen use algorithm-driven technology to deliver anesthetic at a slow, consistent rate, reducing injection-related discomfort. 1 This study evaluated the effectiveness

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