Efficacy of 1% ropivacaine gel for topical anesthesia of human oral mucosa.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of 1% ropivacaine for topical anesthesia in dentistry.


METHODS
Thirty healthy volunteers randomly (blind crossover) received the following treatments: 20 mg of 1% ropivacaine gel (ropivacaine-20), 60 mg of 1% ropivacaine gel (ropivacaine-60), 20 mg of the eutectic mixture of local anesthetics 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine (EMLA cream, AstraZeneca; EMLA-20), 60 mg of EMLA (EMLA-60), 20 mg of 20% benzocaine gel (Benzotop, DFL; benzocaine-20), and 60 mg of 20% benzocaine gel (benzocaine-60), applied on the maxillary buccal fold of the right canine at different sessions. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) and 11-point box scale (BS-11) after the insertion of 30-gauge needles. Soft tissue anesthesia was measured by pinprick test. Data were analyzed by Friedman and Pearson correlation tests.


RESULTS
All the topical anesthetics evaluated showed similar performance in relation to the pain perceived after needle insertion (P >.05), and there were no significant differences among groups considering VAS or BS-11 (P = .177 and P = .179, respectively). The duration of soft tissue anesthesia was not statistically significantly different for ropivacaine-20, EMLA-20, benzocaine-20, ropivacaine-60, EMLA-60, and benzocaine-60, but EMLA-60 showed significantly longer duration than the other agents (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
All topical anesthetics were similar in reducing pain to needle insertion. EMLA-60 promoted longer duration of soft tissue anesthesia.
Franz-Montan
Michelle
M
Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dentistry School, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Silva
André Luis Rotolo
AL
Cogo
Karina
K
Bergamaschi
Cristiane
C
Volpato
Maria Cristina
MC
Ranali
José
J
de Paula
Eneida
E
Groppo
Francisco Carlos
FC
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077212:Ropivacaine
D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005782:Gels; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D001566:Benzocaine