When is pain not a pain? When it is “erased” using the Synapse Dental Pain Eraser, a simple yet effective device that alleviates pain in many situations. Such scenarios include the pain or discomfort felt by an injection, crown or veneer cementation, tooth/root sensitivity, orthodontic pain, postoperative and postsurgery pain, and of course, severe sensitivity especially prior to root planing and scaling. The Synapse device works on the Gate Theory for pain management and is an inexpensive yet valuable tool that can be used by the dentist in-office. It’s also available as a device that patients can use at home for further pain relief.
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Application is simple and takes 1–4 minutes depending on the circumstance. For example, if using preinjection, then apply for 1 minute; if for TMJ, then up to 4 minutes; or in the case of an aphthous ulcer, only 30 seconds. When a patient is to undergo full-arch scaling and root planing, I would run it on the buccal mucosa in a sweeping motion for about 30-45 seconds per arch. There is no need for topical. The Synapse website is an excellent resource and reference. Note that there are several insurance codes, such as D9110, D9630, and D7465, which may be applicable for reimbursement in varying situations. The caveat, of course, is that even though there is a code, it doesn’t mean that you or the patient will be reimbursed. Regardless, I think the Synapse Dental Pain Eraser is a useful device that can aid in pain relief but, perhaps more importantly, it can help eliminate anxiety and gain patient trust, thereby helping build stronger doctor/hygienist/patient relationships.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the June 2022 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
