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American Journal of Pharmacy and Health Research

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COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF INJECTION PAIN DURING ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL ANAESTHESIA AFTER TOPICAL ANAESTHETIC GEL VERSUS CRYOTHERAPY APPLICATION: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Published in August 2026 Issue 08 (Vol. 14, Issue 8, 2026)

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF INJECTION PAIN DURING ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL ANAESTHESIA AFTER TOPICAL ANAESTHETIC GEL VERSUS CRYOTHERAPY APPLICATION: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL - Issue cover

Abstract

Background: The insertion of local anesthetic solution remains one of the most dreaded events during dental treatment, and discomfort from needle penetration is a recognised source of dental anxiety and treatment avoidance. Topical anesthetic gels and pre-injection cooling (cryotherapy) have both been proposed to reduce this discomfort, yet direct comparisons in adult endodontic patients are limited. Objective: To compare pain perception during administration of local anesthesia following a 2% lignocaine topical gel versus a standardized ice-stick cryotherapy protocol. Materials and Methods: In this two-arm crossover randomized controlled trial, patients aged 18–60 years requiring endodontic treatment in at least two teeth received both protocols at separate sites: 2% lignocaine gel (Group A) for 1 minute and a customized ice stick measuring 5 mm × 10 mm (Group B) for 15 seconds before injection. Injection pain was self-rated on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS), and scores were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test at a 5% level of significance. Results: The mean VAS score was 3.65 ± 1.00 in Group A and 2.53 ± 0.94 in Group B, a statistically significant difference (z = −2.888, p = 0.004) indicating lower injection pain with cryotherapy. Conclusion: Pre-injection cryotherapy using a standardized ice stick produced significantly less injection pain than 2% lignocaine topical gel. It offers a simple, inexpensive and non-pharmacological chairside adjunct that can be readily incorporated into routine endodontic practice.

References

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Authors (5)

Dr. Sunayana Bidave

Department of Conservative Den...

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Dr. Pratima Shenoi

Department of Conservative Den...

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Dr. Chetana Makade

Department of Conservative Den...

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Dr. Gautam Badole

Department of Conservative Den...

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Dr. Ankita Ramteke

Department of Conservative Den...

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AJPHR8140002

AJPHR-01-000938

16-23

2026-08-01

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How to Cite

Sunayana, D., & Pratima, D. & Chetana, D. & Gautam, D. & Ankita, D. (2026). COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF INJECTION PAIN DURING ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL ANAESTHESIA AFTER TOPICAL ANAESTHETIC GEL VERSUS CRYOTHERAPY APPLICATION: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL. American Journal of Pharmacy and Health Research, 14(8), 16-23. https://ajphr.com/articles/AJPHR8140002

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