Comparative Evaluation of Pain Perception Between Needleless Jet Infiltration Anaesthesia and Conventional Needle Anaesthesia for Maxillary Primary Molars in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The use of a syringe and needle for delivering local anaesthesia is known to provoke anxiety and apprehension in patients even before dental treatment begins. To overcome anxiety associated with needles, needleless jet infiltration anaesthesia using the INJEX® system (Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany) has been investigated. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate differences in pain perception among children administered INJEX and conventional infiltration anaesthesia. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases for studies published up to December 31, 2023. Two reviewers independently screened and assessed the articles, and six studies were finally included based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias in the selected randomised controlled trials was evaluated using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool. Findings of this meta-analysis suggest that pain experienced during injection and treatment with INJEX was not significantly different from that associated with conventional infiltration anaesthesia. In paediatric dentistry, needleless jet injection could represent a preferable option to conventional local anaesthetic delivery, owing to its higher child acceptance and reduced postoperative pain. Incorporating needleless jet injection (INJEX) into pediatric dental practice can improve patient acceptance by lowering pain and anxiety, ultimately leading to a more positive treatment experience. It offers a child-friendly alternative to conventional needle infiltration, enhancing overall clinical efficiency and patient satisfaction.