Lidocaine 20% patch vs lidocaine 5% gel for topical anaesthesia of oral mucosa.
BACKGROUND
Topical anaesthetics are important to provide pain control at dental injection.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the intraoral topical anaesthetics lidocaine 20% patch (DentiPatch) and lidocaine 5% gel.


METHODS
The randomized unblinded cross-over study included 31 patients (ten boys, 21 girls) aged 13.5 +/- 2.5 years. Application of lidocaine patch or gel was randomly used at first and second visit in the upper premolar region. Heart rate was measured before and at each needle insertion after 2.5, 5, and 15 min and at injection after 15 min. Discomfort and pain were expressed in visual analogue scales (VAS). Paired t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistic analyses.


RESULTS
Heart rate at buccal injection decreased more when the patch was used (P = 0.0149). Heart rate was lower at the second visit (P = 0.0287). Patients expressed less discomfort when the patch was used on both buccal (P = 0.0150) and palatal (P = 0.0391) site. Boys had lower heart rate and VAS pain scale ratings than girls.


CONCLUSIONS
Good pain control can reduce the patients' anxiety level--expressed in heart rate--at the second appointment. The patch and gel seem to provide similar pain reduction at needle stick and injection of local anaesthetics.
Bågesund
Mats
M
Centre for Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, Linköping, Sweden. mats.bagesund@lio.se
Tabrizi
Parisa
P
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine