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Not yet recruitingNCT07748390Updated Aug 5, 2026

Pain and Anxiety During Vital Pulp Therapy Using Different Local Anesthesia Techniques in Children

An observational study in Pediatric and Anesthesia, sponsored by Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 8 Years to 10 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-05.

Sponsored by Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
120
Ages
8 Years to 10 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the effects of different local anesthesia techniques on dental anxiety and pain in children undergoing vital pulp therapy of permanent mandibular first molars. Conventional inferior alveolar nerve block and two computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD) systems used in routine clinical practice will be compared. The choice of anesthesia technique will be based on the clinician's routine decision-making, and no additional intervention or modification of standard treatment will be performed for research purposes. Dental anxiety, pain, physiological parameters, and postoperative complications will be assessed using validated clinical scales and routine clinical measurements. The findings may help improve pain and anxiety management during pediatric dental treatment while supporting evidence-based selection of local anesthesia techniques.

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Conditions studied

  • Pediatric
  • Anesthesia
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In context

Lead sponsor

Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital is the lead sponsor of 88 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
8 Years to 10 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The study population will consist of children aged 8-10 years who require vital pulp therapy of permanent mandibular first molars and attend the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Dentistry. Eligible participants will be systemically healthy children with appropriate cognitive and communication abilities and acceptable cooperation levels according to the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale (scores 3 or 4). Participants will be evaluated according to the routine clinical care provided, and the effects of different local anesthesia techniques on dental anxiety, pain response, physiological parameters, and postoperative outcomes will be assessed.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Children aged 8-10 years.
  • Children and parents/legal guardians who agree to participate in the study and provide .
  • Patients requiring vital pulp therapy of a permanent mandibular first molar.
  • Patients classified as Frankl Behavior Rating Scale score 3 or 4. Systemically healthy children ().
  • Children with adequate cognitive and communication abilities to understand the study procedures and pain/anxiety assessment scales.
  • Permanent mandibular first molars without clinical or radiographic signs of abscess, fistula, or periapical pathology.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Children with systemic diseases or medical conditions affecting dental treatment.
  • Children classified as Frankl Behavior Rating Scale score 1 or 2.
  • Patients with known allergy or to local anesthetic agents (e.g., lidocaine, articaine).
  • Teeth with acute dental infection signs, including abscess, cellulitis, or extensive infection.
  • Teeth showing clinical or radiographic evidence of periapical pathology.
  • Children unable to understand or complete pain and anxiety assessment scales due to cognitive, visual, hearing, or communication limitations.
  • Patients who do not comply with the study procedures or withdraw consent.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

ASA physical status

The anaesthetists’ scale of health before surgery: I is healthy, II has a mild illness that is under control, III a severe one, IV a severe illness that is a constant threat to life. V and VI are used for the critically ill and for organ donors.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

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Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Conventional Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block

    Participants in this cohort receive conventional inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia as part of routine clinical care before vital pulp therapy of permanent mandibular first molars. The anesthesia technique is selected by the treating clinician according to standard clinical practice. No additional intervention or modification of the anesthesia procedure is performed for study purposes. Pain, dental anxiety, physiological parameters, and postoperative outcomes are evaluated and recorded.

  • QuickSleeper Computer-Controlled Local Anesthesia

    Participants in this cohort receive computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery using the QuickSleeper system as part of routine clinical care before vital pulp therapy of permanent mandibular first molars. The anesthesia technique is selected by the treating clinician according to standard clinical practice. No additional intervention or modification of the routine treatment protocol is performed for study purposes. Pain, dental anxiety, physiological parameters, and postoperative outcomes are evaluated and recorded.

  • Controlled Local Anesthetic Delivery System Group

    Participants in this cohort receive computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery using the SOAN system as part of routine clinical care before vital pulp therapy of permanent mandibular first molars. The SOAN system allows controlled administration of local anesthetic solution with regulated flow and pressure during the injection procedure. The anesthesia technique is selected by the treating clinician according to standard clinical practice and clinical requirements. No additional intervention, modification of the routine treatment protocol, or procedure solely for research purposes is performed. Dental anxiety, pain responses, physiological parameters, and postoperative outcomes are evaluated and recorded during and after the routine dental treatment process.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Response During Local Anesthesia Administration

    Pain response during local anesthesia administration will be assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale. The FLACC scale evaluates behavioral pain responses in children based on five domains: facial expression, leg movement, activity, crying, and consolability. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

    Time frame: During local anesthesia administration

Secondary outcomes

  1. Dental Anxiety Level Assessed by the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale-Faces Version (MCDASf)

    Dental anxiety levels will be evaluated using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale-Faces version (MCDASf). The scale includes eight dental situations rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (relaxed/not anxious) to 5 (very anxious). Total scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of dental anxiety.

    Time frame: Baseline (before treatment) and immediately after completion of treatment

  2. Immediate Emotional Status Assessed by the Facial Image Scale (FIS)

    The Facial Image Scale (FIS) will be used to evaluate children's immediate emotional status and dental anxiety. The scale consists of five facial expressions ranging from very happy to very unhappy. Higher scores indicate increased anxiety levels.

    Time frame: Before anesthesia administration and after local anesthesia administration

  3. Post-Treatment Pain Intensity Assessed by the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale

    Pain intensity after completion of vital pulp therapy will be assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. The scale ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain), with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

    Time frame: Immediately after completion of treatment

  4. Heart Rate

    Heart rate (beats per minute) measured before local anesthesia, immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment.

    Time frame: Baseline (before local anesthesia), immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment

  5. Postoperative Complications After Vital Pulp Therapy

    Postoperative complications following vital pulp therapy will be assessed by contacting parents 24 hours after treatment. The presence or absence of postoperative symptoms will be recorded.

    Time frame: 24 hours after treatment

  6. Blood Pressure

    Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) measured before local anesthesia, immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment.

    Time frame: Baseline (before local anesthesia), immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment

  7. Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)

    Peripheral oxygen saturation (%) measured before local anesthesia, immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment.

    Time frame: Baseline (before local anesthesia), immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment

  8. Body Temperature

    Body temperature (°C) measured before local anesthesia, immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment.

    Time frame: Baseline (before local anesthesia), immediately after local anesthesia administration, during pulp exposure, and immediately after completion of treatment

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

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Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Aug 2026; primary completion for Nov 2026, 3 months later.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jul 28, 2026
First posted
Aug 5, 2026
StartEst.
Aug 1, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Nov 15, 2026
CompletionEst.
Dec 30, 2026
Last update
Aug 5, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 5, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07748390
Lead sponsor
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital
Responsible party
DİLARA NİL GÜNAÇAR (Assoc.Prof., Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 5, 2026
Start date
Aug 1, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Nov 15, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 30, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 5, 2026

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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