title: A clinical evaluation of three topical anaesthetic agents.
abstract: This study compared the efficacy of EMLA 5% Cream, Xylocaine 5% (lignocaine 5 per cent) and NUM (benzocaine 15 per cent, amethocaine 1.7 per cent) to a placebo in reducing the pain experience during needle insertion. In a random, double blind study three groups of twenty volunteers each had a paired topical anaesthetic/placebo placed bilaterally in the buccal sulcus of the upper premolar regions for two minutes, followed by the insertion of a standard 27 gauge needle to a depth of 5 mm. Pain experience was measured with visual analogue scales. Results showed that all three agents significantly reduced pain when compared with the placebo--EMLA (p less than 0.002); Xylocaine (p less than 0.05); NUM (p less than 0.005).
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Surry Hills, New South Wales.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Punnia-Moorthy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D009339:Needles; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; C078186:NUM anaesthetic; D010919:Placebos; D011318:Prilocaine; D013748:Tetracaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D001566:Benzocaine