title: Clinical effectiveness of lidocaine and benzocaine for topical anesthesia.
abstract: The effectiveness of lidocaine and benzocaine in reducing pain produced by needle insertion into the palate was evaluated in a double-blind and placebo-controlled study using a more suitable method. Twenty subjects, 10 men and 10 women, submitted to 4 sessions in which they were randomly treated with 5% lidocaine, a placebo that tasted like lidocaine, 20% benzocaine, and a placebo that tasted like benzocaine. At each session, a 27-gauge needle was inserted into the palate twice, once before (baseline) and once after drug application for 1 minute. Immediately after each insertion, subjects indicated on a visual analog scale the pain intensity perceived. Lidocaine and benzocaine were equally efficient, and both were better than placebo in reducing pain caused by insertion of needles into the palate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. adalrosa@forp.usp.br
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sverzut
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lavrador
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010159:Palate; D010919:Placebos; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D010919:Placebos; D008012:Lidocaine; D001566:Benzocaine