Pain perception and utility: a comparison of the syringe and computerized local injection techniques.

Thirty patients received maxillary infiltration and mandibular inferior alveolar nerve block injections with both a traditional syringe and a computerized system, the Wand. Patients noted their preference for either system and rated their injection pain and postoperative discomfort on a ten-point scale for each type of injection. Mean injection discomfort ratings with the Wand were lower than with the syringe but were not statistically significant. Reduced postoperative discomfort using the Wand for the inferior alveolar nerve block was significant. Both of the dentists in the study and those patients who stated a preference favored the Wand system.