Comparative Study Between SmartBurs II and Conventional Carbide Burs in the Evaluation of Pain and Anxiety in Children

Abstract

Introduction:The anticipation of pain experienced through dental treatment is usually because of local anesthetic injections and a high-speed handpiece, especially in children. Smart Burs II does not require local anesthesia; therefore, it can mitigate the discomfort encountered during dental interventions and circumvent dental anxiety. Aim: We aimed to evaluate the duration required for caries removal by Smart Burs II in contrast to carbide burs, as well as the level of pain reported by pediatric patients during the application of each method. Methods: Thirty permanent first molars that met our criteria were included in the study. These molars were present in children aged between 8 and 11 years and exhibited class I occlusal caries. Participants were categorized into two groups on the basis of random allocation. In Group I, which consisted of 15 participants, caries removal was performed using SmartBurs II. In Group II, which comprised 15 participants, a conventional carbide bur was used for caries removal. The duration of the caries removal procedure was recorded in seconds for both groups. Patient perceptions of treatment were determined using the facial image scale (FIS). Results: According to the statistical analysis, SmartBurs II resulted in a longer duration and lower recorded pain scores than carbide bur. Conclusions: The employment of SmartBurs ΙΙ necessitated an extended duration for caries removal and resulted in a significant reduction in pain sensation during the extraction of infected dentin compared to using traditional carbide burs.