The needleless syringe: efficacy of anesthesia and patient preference in child dental patients.

Delivery of local anesthesia in dentistry is primarily by way of a needle-tipped syringe. This procedure, when used on children, is often stressful and sometimes painful for the patient. The Syrijet is an instrument which delivers anesthesia without the use of a needle. This is accomplished by delivering the anesthetic solution under high compressive forces. The subjects were thirty-four children ranging in age between 5 and 15 years, on whom forty-five dental procedures were completed. There was a statistically significant difference in favor of the instrument, with twenty-five subjects reporting a preference for it. The instrument was completely successful in providing anesthesia in thirty-six of the forty-five procedures.