Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
| Online Publication Date: Sep 01, 2005
Factors Influencing the Discomfort of Intraoral Needle Penetration
Factors Influencing the Discomfort of Intraoral Needle Penetration
PhD, FDSRCPS,
BDS, MFDS, and
BDS, MFDS
Page Range: 91 – 94
This study with 24 volunteers compared the discomfort produced by needle penetration in different parts of the palatal mucosa. In addition, comparing a fresh needle to one that was used for a previous penetration in the same patient, we assessed the influence of the status of the needle on insertion discomfort during buccal mucosal penetration. The results showed that needle penetration in the anterior hard palate was more uncomfortable than in the posterior palate. Although men could not differentiate between fresh and used needles for a second buccal mucosal penetration, women reported a significant increase in discomfort with used needles.Abstract
Copyright: © 2005 by the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

Figure 1.
The mean Visual Analogue Scale scores for the entire study population for buccal needle penetrations with new and used needles and anterior and posterior palatal needle insertions. The asterisk indicates significant differences between columns on either side of the asterisk.

Figure 2.
The mean Visual Analogue Scale scores for women for buccal needle penetrations with new and used needles, first and second buccal penetrations, and anterior and posterior palatal needle insertions. The asterisk indicates significant differences between columns on either side of the asterisk.
Contributor Notes
Address correspondence to Dr J. G. Meechan, School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England NE2 4BW; J.G.Meechan@ncl.ac.uk.
Received: Sep 27, 2004
Accepted: Mar 01, 2005