Clinical study to evaluate the use of electronic anesthesia during dental hygiene procedures.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the 3M Dental Electronic Anesthesia System 8670 would decrease patients' pain/discomfort levels during scaling and root planing procedures. METHODS: Forty-nine patients possessing hypersensitive teeth and/or 4-6 mm periodontal pockets requiring scaling and root planing were selected as subjects. Patients received treatment using an inactive and then an active stimulator in paired quadrants. The patients scored their pain/discomfort levels after each procedure. They were contacted by telephone 1-2 days following treatment to determine if they experienced any symptoms or discomfort following electronic dental anesthesia. RESULTS: The overall results for the assessment of pain/discomfort indicated that treatment using the active stimulator resulted in significantly lower pain scores for the total patient population. CONCLUSIONS: This study found the 3M Dental Electronic Anesthesia System 8670 to be effective for controlling pain during the dental hygiene procedures specified.