Effect of Surface Anesthetics on Tongue Sensory Function

Area of Science:

• Oral medicine
• Pharmacology
• Sensory science

Background:

• Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a condition often treated with lidocaine hydrochloride (LDCA).
• The efficacy of benzocaine (BEN) for BMS treatment and examination requires further investigation.
• Quantitative sensory testing is employed to assess the effects of topical anesthetics on oral sensory perception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of benzocaine (BEN) as a treatment for burning mouth syndrome (BMS).
• To compare the anesthetic effects of benzocaine (BEN) and lidocaine hydrochloride (LDCA) on the sensory function of the tongue tip.
• To investigate the impact of these anesthetics on mechanical detection thresholds (MDT), mechanical pain thresholds (MPT), and numerical rating scale (NRS) scores.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind, randomized crossover study involving 30 healthy women.
• Application of 2% LDCA, 20% BEN, and a vaseline control to the tongue tip over three separate days.
• Measurement of MDT, MPT, and NRS at baseline and at multiple time points post-application.

Main Results:

• Both 2% LDCA and 20% BEN significantly increased MDT compared to baseline values immediately and up to 15 minutes post-application.
• Significant increases in MPT were observed for both anesthetics, with LDCA showing effects up to 30 minutes and BEN up to 15 minutes.
• No significant differences in NRS scores were found between the measurement periods or the tested anesthetics.

Conclusions:

• 2% LDCA and 20% BEN demonstrate comparable anesthetic effects on the sensory function of the healthy tongue tip.
• Benzocaine (BEN) may serve as a viable alternative or adjunct treatment for conditions like burning mouth syndrome (BMS).
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in BMS patients.