NewsletterMicroprocessor-controlled, pain-blocking VibraPulse technology helps alleviate injection pain.
Fear of pain is universal. According to worldental.org, studies coming out of the Dental Fears Research Clinic in Seattle, Washington, suggest that upwards of 40 million Americans avoid the dentist because of this fear. Bing Innovations, LLC, has recently introduced the second-generation DentalVibe to reduce anxiety and the pain associated with dental injections.
This award-winning device invented and patented by Steven G. Goldberg, DDS, uses revolutionary VibraPulse technology to send soothing, pulsed, percussive vibrations deep into the oral mucosa during the delivery of an injection. This stimulation is picked up by the submucosal sensory receptors, sending a message to the brain and effectively closing the neural “pain gate,” thus allowing for the comfortable administration of intraoral injections. Cordless, portable, non-threatening, and easily affordable, DentalVibe has been receiving rave reviews all around the world from the key opinion leaders in dentistry as well as being featured on all television news networks.
DentalVibe (Figure 1) is based on the principles of the Gate Control Theory of Pain. According to this theory, there is a gating mechanism located in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord that either permits or prevents the sensation of pain from traveling up the spinothalamic tract to the brain. When the DentalVibe is used simultaneously during the administration of an injection, the pulsed vibratory impulses generated by the device travel along thick, myelinated A-beta nerve fibers 37.5 times faster to the brain than the sensation of pain from the injection, which travels along thin, un-myelinated C-nerve fibers. Because the vibration sensation reaches the brain first, a signal is sent to a synapse in the spinal cord, activating inhibitory interneurons, which prevent the action of projection neurons, thereby shutting a “neurological gate” and blocking the pain from the injection. It is well understood that the brain readily adapts (neural adaptation) to a constant stimulus, and as such, the addition of VibraPulse technology is the key to the effectiveness of the DentalVibe.
In an effort to maintain the optimal frequency of vibration for closure of the pain gate, DentalVibe is equipped with a voltage-regulated power supply, which boosts the power when it is needed most, upon retraction. Additionally, the latex-free comfort tips are specifically designed with a pressure-sensing feature, causing the unit to temporarily shut off if excessive force is applied during use.
Children can enjoy the full benefits of DentalVibe. In addition, soft and pliable finger puppets are available from Bing, providing an additional delightful distraction to the young patient. The toy is given to the child after the injection as a reward.
DentalVibe is proudly manufactured in the United States at Contract Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. (CMSI), in Weston, Florida. CMSI is a leading FDA and ISO 13485:2003-certified medical device manufacturer.
The DentalVibe is ideal for the comfortable administration of any intraoral injection, including maxillary infiltrations, palatal injections, and mandibular block injections, following the steps outline below.
Maxillary Infiltrations The comfort tip is placed up into the mucobuccal fold at the injection site. While retracting the lip and maintaining tissue contact, the needle is inserted and the anesthetic solution is delivered adjacent to one of the oscillating prongs. The vibratory stimulus is used before needle insertion to gain neural recognition during the anesthetic administration to block the sensation of pain, and, for 3 to 5 seconds after delivery, massages the solution into the tissue through the periosteum and into the nerve, leading to a faster, more profound anesthetic effect.
Palatal Injections Only one vibrating prong is necessary; it is placed on the palatal tissue with a small amount of pressure as the needle is inserted and anesthetic solution delivered.
Mandibular Block Injections (IA) The comfort tip is placed on the buccal mucosa and pushed deeper into the tissue, so the oscillating tip is resting on the medial aspect of the ramus near the foramen. While maintaining pressure on the mandible, the needle is inserted alongside one of the prongs, aspiration is performed, and the anesthetic solution is delivered.
Reducing pain in the dental practice makes good business sense. Dentistry doesn’t hurt, injections do. With the use of DentalVibe, injections can be painless, too.
This article was written by BING Innovations LLC, manufacturer and distributor of the DentalVibe Injection Comfort System nationwide.
For more information, contact:
DentalVibe
Phone: 877-503-8423
Web: www.dentalvibe.com
The preceding material was provided by the manufacturer. The statements and opinions contained therein are solely those of the manufacturer and not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of Inside Dentistry.
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