Local Anesthesia in Pediatric Dentistry: A Literature Review on Current Alternative Techniques and Approaches
Sivakumar Nuvvula, Kanamarlapudi Venkata Saikiran, Sainath Reddy Elicherla, Varada Sahithi, Mahesh Nunna, Ramasubbareddy Challa
Abstract
Prevalence of pain and dental anxiety plays a crucial part in pediatric dentistry. These factors cause a delay in pursuing dental treatment, which in turn increases early childhood caries. Anxiety and fear that arise before and during local anesthesia administration persist as barriers for children experiencing dental treatment. Although local anesthesia plays a significant role in managing pain for children, researchers continue to search for various comfortable methods to alleviate the pain during local anesthetic administration. Thus, the present overview aims to educate pediatric dentists concerning newer local anesthetic delivery devices and several approaches in alleviating dental anxiety and pain in children.