Evaluating Anxiety Levels and Pain Perception while Administering Local Anesthesia Using Conventional Insulin Syringes and Novel Star Pen Device
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Pain management during local anesthesia (LA) administration is a crucial aspect of pediatric dentistry, as it directly affects a child's cooperation, comfort, and overall dental experience. Conventional syringes are commonly used but may cause significant discomfort in children. Alternatives such as insulin syringes and the computer-controlled Star Pen aim to minimize pain through finer needles or controlled delivery. This study aims to evaluate and compare children's pain responses to LA administration using three techniques-conventional syringes, insulin syringes, and the Star Pen-to identify the most comfortable and child-friendly method. Aim: To assess and compare the efficacy and anxiety levels between the Star Pen, insulin syringe, and conventional technique for anesthetizing primary maxillary teeth in children. Materials and methods: before and during the intervention. Results: Anxiety levels and pain perception were perceived to be significantly lower in the Star Pen and insulin syringe groups when compared to the conventional syringe group. The Star Pen showed superior results, followed by the insulin syringe and then the conventional syringe. Conclusion: The Star Pen showed superiority, followed by the insulin syringe, in reducing anxiety levels in children as compared to the conventional technique. Registration: The Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI) prospectively registered the study under the CTRI number CTRI/2025/05/087661. How to cite this article: Evaluating Anxiety Levels and Pain Perception while Administering Local Anesthesia Using Conventional Insulin Syringes and Novel Star Pen Device. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2026;19(5):655-661.
Institution: Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education
Language: English
Subfield: Oral Surgery
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7155376653