Comparison of two computerised anaesthesia delivery systems: pain and pain-related behaviour in children during a dental injection.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in pain and distress response of the child when using two different computer-controlled local analgesic delivery systems, the Sleeper One(®) and the WAND(®), and whether this was influenced by the anxiety level of the child.

Methods: This randomised controlled trial was conducted among 112 children (56 girls) aged 4-6 years (mean age 66 months, SD 9 months). All children needing at least one dental visit using local analgesia were randomly assigned to either the Sleeper One(®) or the WAND(®).

Results: During the injection phase, children expressed the same amount of disruptive behaviour using the Sleeper One(®) or the WAND(®) (Mann-Whitney U test, p > 0.05). The average injection time of the Sleeper One(®) (mean 2.49 min, SD 0.56) was significantly shorter than that of the WAND(®) (mean 3.20 min, SD 0.61; Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: No significant difference was found in pain and distress reaction of the child between the WAND(®) and the Sleeper One(®). The average delivery time of the Sleeper One(®) was shorter.