title: Oral mucosal analgesia quantitatively assessed by argon laser-induced thresholds and single-evoked vertex potentials.
abstract: The aim of this study is to quantitate the efficacy of a new topical anesthetic applied to the oral mucosa. Nociceptive pinprick thresholds and single-evoked vertex potentials (VP) elicited by high-intensity argon laser stimuli are used as measures of analgesia. After 5 minutes of occlusion (Orahesive Oral Bandages, ConvaTec) with a eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA cream, Astra), nociceptive pinprick thresholds on the tongue and gingiva are higher than those taken during nonocclusion. In a double blind-placebo controlled experiment, VPs were elicited every 1 minute for 19 minutes by single laser stimuli applied to the mucosa of the lower lip. After occlusion with EMLA cream for 3 minutes, VPs were significantly reduced when compared to those with placebo cream. One minute after removal of the EMLA cream, the spectral power of the single-evoked VP decreased significantly by 63.3%, the root-mean-square amplitude decreased by 42.7%, and the subjective pain perception (estimated on visual analogue scales) decreased by 88%. A significant reduction in single-evoked VPs was detected until 13 minutes after the removal of the EMLA cream. Oral mucosal analgesia may be quantitated by argon laser-induced nociceptive pinprick thresholds and single-evoked VPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Stomatognathic Physiology, Royal Dental College, Aarhus University, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arendt-Nielsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bjerring
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaaber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008012:Lidocaine; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D011318:Prilocaine; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine