The effect of clove and benzocaine versus placebo as topical anesthetics.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine whether the natural herb clove can replace benzocaine as a topical anesthetic.


METHODS
Topical agents were applied to the maxillary canine buccal mucosa of 73 adult volunteers. Four substances were tested in the study: (1) homemade clove gel, (2) benzocaine 20% gel, (3) placebo that resembles clove and (4) a placebo that resembled benzocaine. After 5 min of material application in a randomized, subject-blinded manner, each participant received two needle sticks. Pain response was registered using a 100 mm visual analogue pain scale.


RESULTS
Both clove and benzocaine gels had significantly lower mean pain scores than placebos (p=0.005). No significant difference was observed between clove and benzocaine regarding pain scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Clove gel might possess a potential to replace benzocaine as a topical agent before needle insertion.
Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait. Athbi@hsc.edu.kw
Athbi
A
Alqareer
Asma
A
Alyahya
Lars
L
Andersson
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D045783:Clove Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D045783:Clove Oil; D005782:Gels; D001566:Benzocaine