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Pulpal anesthesia from an application of a eutectic topical anesthetic
E R Vickers1, A Punnia-Moorthy
1Department of Oral Surgery, University of Sydney, Dental School, Australia.
Quintessence International (Berlin, Germany : 1985)
|August 1, 1993
Summary
EMLA cream 5% effectively provided pulpal anesthesia in 92% of subjects after 15-30 minutes of application. This topical anesthetic shows promise for restorative dentistry procedures.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dental procedures often require effective pulpal anesthesia.
- Topical anesthetics offer a less invasive alternative to injectable agents.
- EMLA cream (lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%) is a known topical anesthetic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of EMLA cream 5% in achieving pulpal anesthesia.
- To determine if extended application times enhance anesthetic depth.
- To assess the potential of EMLA cream in restorative dental applications.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind study was conducted with 13 human subjects.
- EMLA cream 5% was applied topically for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Pulpal anesthesia was objectively measured using electrical pulp testing (EPT).
Main Results:
- 92% (12 out of 13) of subjects reported no pain sensation at the maximum EPT setting (300 V).
- The application time of 15-30 minutes was sufficient to induce a significant level of pulpal anesthesia.
- No adverse events were reported during the study.
Conclusions:
- EMLA cream 5% demonstrates significant potential for achieving pulpal anesthesia in a dental setting.
- The findings support further research into EMLA cream's utility for restorative dentistry.
- Longer application times may enhance the anesthetic effect of EMLA cream for dental procedures.
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