Innovative techniques in administration of local anesthesia in children

Introduction. Dental fear and anxiety are common issues in pediatric dentistry, affecting patient compliance and treatment success. The pain experienced during local anesthesia administration is one of the primary triggers of anxiety, and innovative anesthetic delivery technologies can help mitigate this problem. Purpose of the work. To evaluate innovative methods of local anesthesia administration in children and analyze their impact on reducing dental anxiety. Material and Methods. The study included 57 children aged 5 to 10 years who completed a questionnaire based on the Facial Image Scale (FIS) to assess their level of fear regarding various dental aspects. The collected data were compared with the specialized literature, analyzing the effectiveness of alternative anesthesia methods such as needle-free injections, computerized anesthesia and vibrotactile devices. Results. The study data highlight that the fear of injections is the primary anxiety-inducing factor (53%), followed by the distress caused by dental instruments (34%).The use of innovative anesthesia administration technologies significantly reduced dental anxiety. The reviewed studies confirm that methods such as needle-free anesthesia and vibration applied at the injection site contribute to more effective pain control and a more positive experience for pediatric patients. Conclusions. The study demonstrates that the use of innovative local anesthesia administration methods in pediatric dentistry significantly reduces anxiety and improves children's acceptance of treatment. These methods represent an effective solution for optimizing the patient experience and enhancing the efficiency of dental treatments.