Tuk JG, et al. – The current study was expected to explore whether patients with a pain score ≥7 (high pain group) after a mandibular block injection had a higher physiological response than patients with scores <7 (low pain group). It was shown that reported pain was not related to the physiological response of patients receiving mandibular block injections.

Methods

• Patients (n = 66) filled out questionnaires to measure anxiety and expected pain prior to oral surgery.
• Questionnaires also evaluated the patients' experiences with dental injections and dental anxiety, and their emotional state and intensity of anxiety.
• Using the Nexus-10, physiological responses were measured before, during, and after the injection.
• Finally, patients were then asked about the pain and anxiety they experienced.

Results

• It was observed in the findings that the mean score for pain experienced was 3.45 (SD 2.17) on an 11-point rating scale.
• Findings revealed that 8 patients (12.1%) experienced high injection pain.
• Notably, there was a significant increase in mean sweat secretion and a significant reduction in mean respiration between the relaxing and injection phases.
• In addition, there was a significant positive relationship between experienced anxiety and mean heart rate during the injection phase.
• The authors did not find significant difference in physiological response between patients who experienced high vs. low pain.