A comparison of injectable local anesthesia and electronic dental anesthesia in restorative dentistry.

This study compares patient satisfaction and subjective pain levels with either electronic dental anesthesia (EDA) or injectable local anesthesia (LA) during the placement of direct restorations. Twenty-five patients (mean age 41 years), who each required two similar restorations in vital teeth, were selected. One restoration was placed using EDA and the other using LA. Preoperatively, all participants completed the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale, and postoperatively they completed a satisfaction questionnaire. Fifteen (60%) patients preferred EDA to LA, and 7 (28%) had no preference. Asked to rate their feelings on the prospect of having a filling placed with either EDA or LA (scale 1 to 5, very anxious to very relaxed), the patients rated LA as 3.0 and EDA as 3.6 (mean scores). Some pain or discomfort was felt by 12 patients with EDA and 14 patients with LA. On a scale of discomfort (1 to 5, very slight to very severe), the mean score was 1.0 for EDA and 1.2 for LA.