Comparative Evaluation of Pain Perception and Postoperative Pain in Children with Precooled Injection Sites Using Popsicles for Local Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

practical for young children, affecting compliance and efficacy.This study seeks to address this gap by evaluating the use of popsicles as a child-friendly cryotherapy intervention. 9Popsicles offer a dual IntroductIonEffective pain management in pediatric dentistry is critical for ensuring a positive patient experience, minimizing anxiety, and fostering long-term acceptance of dental care. 1 Pain perception in children differs significantly from that in adults due to physiological, neurological, and psychological factors, necessitating tailored approaches to analgesia. 2,3 ocal anesthesia (LA) is the standard method for pain control during invasive procedures; however, its administration is often a source of distress in young patients. 4,5Similarly, postoperative discomfort following tooth extractions remains a challenge, with pharmacological inter ventions posing limitations, such as potential side effects and caregiver concerns over medication use. 6Consequently, there is growing interest in nonpharmacological pain management techniques, particularly cryotherapy, which has demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain through localized cooling, nerve desensitization, and antiinflammatory effects. 7espite extensive research on cryotherapy in dentistry, limited studies have explored its application in a dual role-both as a precooling agent to reduce injection-related pain and as a postoperative analgesic following dental extractions. 8Moreover, existing methods, such as ice packs, cooling gels, and cold compresses, may be less appealing or 1,