What do systematic reviews say?

The wand (computer-controlled LA delivery system) vs other local anaesthetic

The wand (computer-controlled LA delivery system) showed no clear difference in pain perception during the intervention (pooled) compared with traditional local anaesthetic; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA (injection is the intervention)
  RR 1.15 [0.83, 1.59]
  2 studies · 68 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical NSAID (ketoprofen lysinate mouthwash, 160 mg) vs Topical NSAID (benzidamine hydrochloride mouthwash, 22.5 mg)

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 days (not usable)
  One study (Lauritano 2000) compared ketoprofen 160 mg with benzidamine chloride 22.5 mg mouthwashes; it presented data at 4 days only, so the data could not be used in this review; no GRADE rating.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Analgesic (any: NSAID, paracetamol, local anaesthetic or opioid) vs placebo or control

Analgesic (any: NSAID, paracetamol, local anaesthetic or opioid) probably leads to lower pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with control (placebo or no treatment) (moderate certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 hours
  MD -11.66 [-16.15, -7.17]
  10 studies · 685 participants
  Moderate
• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 hours
  MD -21.19 [-28.31, -14.06]
  12 studies · 1012 participants
  Moderate
• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 hours
  MD -24.27 [-31.44, -17.11]
  9 studies · 535 participants
  Moderate

Ibuprofen taken pre-emptively (about 1 hour before treatment) vs Ibuprofen taken post-treatment

It is very uncertain whether ibuprofen taken pre-emptively (about 1 hour before treatment) changes pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with ibuprofen taken post-treatment (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 hours
  MD -9.74 [-47.88, 28.40]
  2 studies · 69 participants
  Very low
• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 hours
  MD -11.30 [-16.27, -6.33]
  1 study · 41 participants
  Very low
• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 hours
  MD -8.43 [-30.37, 13.50]
  2 studies · 69 participants
  Very low

NSAID (systemic) vs paracetamol

NSAID (systemic) showed no clear difference in pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with paracetamol (low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 hours
  MD -5.17 [-11.71, 1.37]
  7 studies · 664 participants
  Low
• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 hours
  MD -0.51 [-8.93, 7.92]
  9 studies · 734 participants
  Low
• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 hours
  MD -2.92 [-8.48, 2.65]
  7 studies · 664 participants
  Low

Topical NSAID (ketoprofen chewing gum) vs Local anaesthetic (benzocaine chewing gum)

It is very uncertain whether topical NSAID (ketoprofen chewing gum) changes pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with local anaesthetic (benzocaine chewing gum) (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 hours
  MD 13 [-3.45, 29.45]
  1 study · 48 participants
  Very low

Audiovisual distraction vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Electrical counter-stimulation device (DentalVibe) vs Conventional treatment (no stimulation)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Counter-stimulation and distraction (combined) vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Counter-stimulation or distraction vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Immediately before or during LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

The wand (computer-controlled LA delivery system) vs other local anaesthetic

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA (injection is the intervention)
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Video modelling acclimatisation vs Acclimatisation in clinic (tell-show-do)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  In advance of LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Hypnosis vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Immediately before or during LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

The wand (computer-controlled LA delivery system) vs Sleeper One (electronic LA delivery system)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA (injection is the intervention)
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Pre-cooling of the injection site vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Immediately before LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Video modelling acclimatisation for LA vs Oral hygiene video

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  In advance of LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Camouflage syringe vs Conventional syringe

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA (injection is the intervention)
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical NSAID (ketoprofen lysinate mouthwash, 160 mg) vs Topical NSAID (benzidamine hydrochloride mouthwash, 22.5 mg)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The study did not report this outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Topical NSAID (ketoprofen chewing gum) vs Local anaesthetic (benzocaine chewing gum)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The study did not report this outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Ibuprofen taken pre-emptively (about 1 hour before treatment) vs Ibuprofen taken post-treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies in this comparison reported this outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found