[Electrical dental anesthesia (EDA), an alternative to local anesthesia?].

Electrical dental anesthesia has recently been suggested as an alternative to local anesthetics for the control of pain related to certain dental acts. This article updates the evidence which supports the efficiency, indications and contra-indications of such a procedure. Although this technique has certain advantages, its use is limited by: 1) how cooperative the patient may be; 2) the time required to explain the procedure to the patient and that which is required to produce the needed clinical effect; and, 3) how efficient it may be relative to the patient in question and the dental treatment rendered.