The effect of vibration on pain during local anaesthesia injections

  1. E Nanitsos1,
  2. R Vartuli1,
  3. A Forte2,
  4. PJ Dennison2,
  5. CC Peck2

Article first published online: 21 MAY 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2009.01100.x

Issue

Australian Dental Journal

Australian Dental Journal

Volume 54, Issue 2, pages 94–100, June 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Nanitsos, E., Vartuli, R., Forte, A., Dennison, P. and Peck, C. (2009), The effect of vibration on pain during local anaesthesia injections. Australian Dental Journal, 54: 94–100. doi: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2009.01100.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Private Practice, New South Wales.

  2. 2

    Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Sydney, New South Wales.

*Associate Professor Christopher C. Peck Jaw Function and Orofacial Pain Research Unit Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Sydney Professorial Unit, Level 3 Westmead Hospital Centre for Oral Health Westmead NSW 2145 Email: cpeck@usyd.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 MAY 2009
  2. Article first published online: 21 MAY 2009
  3. (Accepted for publication 29 July 2008.)

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Keywords:

  • Pain;
  • gate control theory;
  • vibration;
  • local anaesthesia

Abstract

Background:  The “gate control” theory suggests pain can be reduced by simultaneous activation of nerve fibres that conduct non-noxious stimuli. This study investigated the effects of vibration stimuli on pain experienced during local anaesthetic injections.

Methods:  In a preliminary study, subjects were asked to rate anticipated and actual pain from regional anaesthetic injections in the oral cavity. A second study compared, within subjects, pain from injections with and without a simultaneous vibration stimulus. Both infiltration and block anaesthetic injection techniques were assessed. In each subject, two similar injections were given and with one, a vibration stimulus was randomly allocated. Injection pain was assessed by visual analogue scale and McGill pain descriptors.

Results:  Both infiltration and block injections were painful (mean anticipated intensity: 31.25, actual: 17.82 mm on 100 mm scale). Pain intensity with and without vibration was 12.9 mm (range 0–67) and 22.2 mm (range 0–83) respectively (p = 0.00005, paired T-test), and this effect was seen with both infiltration (p = 0.032) and block anaesthetic (p = 0.0001) injection subgroups. Furthermore, compared to no vibration-stimulus injections, injections with vibration resulted in less pain descriptors chosen (p = 0.004), and the descriptors had a lower pain rating (p = 0.001).

Conclusions:  The results suggest that vibration can be used to decrease pain during dental local anaesthetic administration.

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