Administering local anaesthesia to pediatric patients poses unique challenges. Palatal injections, known for their traumatic nature, often induce significant pain and dental anxiety in children.

To address this issue, Esra Ceren Tuğutlu and Kevser Sancak conducted a randomized controlled trial which evaluated the perception of pain without the use of palatal injections during anaesthesia and primary maxillary molar extractions, utilizing various anaesthetic solutions and assessed at various post-anaesthetic waiting times.

Out of 78 participants, 40 (51.3%) were females and 38 (48.7%) were males, aged between 8 to 12 years. They were divided into 6 different groups, such as study groups in which patients were given buccal anaesthesia (Articaine or Lidocaine) with 5 minutes and 8 minutes post-anaesthetic waiting time without palatal anaesthesia followed; control groups in which patients were administered with palatal anaesthesia. 

Pain experiences and severity were subjectively assessed after anaesthesia and tooth extraction with the help of the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Regarding the VAS scores recorded post-anesthesia, a statistically significant distinction was apparent among the groups (p<0.05). VAS pain scores were notably lower in the study groups compared to the control group However, no statistically significant variance was noted in VAS and Wong-Baker scores subsequent to tooth extraction between the groups receiving palatal anesthesia and those not receiving it.