The efectiveness of topical anesthesia on pain during oral injections - A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a topical anesthetic in pain and anxiety control during oral injections. The experimental design was a randomized, double-blind, split mouth model. Anesthesia was performed in the infraorbital and posterior superior alveolar nerves in 10 healthy and normotensive patients. Before anesthesia randomization was performed on one side to apply the topical anesthetic (benzocaine 20%) and the other placebo. The pulse and blood pressure were assessed before, during and after anesthesia injection, and the pain in puncture was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). The results showed statistically significant difference (p = 0.04) in pain of the needle puncture between the groups at the infraorbital nerve. In the posterior superior alveolar nerve no statistically significant difference was found between groups (p = 0.39). In the evaluation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure no significant diferences showed between groups in any of the times evaluated. In assessing the pulse was no statistically significant difference (p = 0:02) between the topical anesthetic and placebo only for the infraorbital nerve at the time of puncture. In conclusion, the topical anesthetic decreased the pain in anesthesia of the infraorbital nerve when compared to placebo.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2023.005-021