Dentists will conduct local anesthesia without injections
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Some patients can not imagine performing dental procedures without an anesthetic injection. However, injections are also not always possible - many are frightened of only one kind of needle. What to do?
Scientists have found a way out of the situation and created a new drug in the form of a spray that contains an anesthetic kovanaze: henceforth an injection for anesthesia is not needed when removing a tooth, as it is enough to inject anesthetic into the nasal cavity a couple of times.
The newest tool was developed by employees of the company "St. Renatus ", based on the spray previously invented with tetrokain - such a spray was successfully applied by physicians before performing a surgical intervention on the inner septum of the nose.
Professor of Dentistry Mark Collar, when using the spray, noticed that not only the nose and face, but also the upper and lower jaw, can be anaesthetized. The resourceful doctor immediately realized that a similar remedy could be tried in the treatment of teeth.
Anesthetic kovanaze is a drug that combines the active ingredient tetracaine and the decongestant oxymetazoline. The Expert Committee allowed using this tool for local anesthesia before dental procedures in people with a weight exceeding 40 kg. Tests of a new anesthetic in children are not yet conducted, but scientists are already planning such experiments.
"Invented spray will help to make many people feel impressed by visiting a dentist. It's no secret that for a large number of patients - and especially children - a visit to the dentist is stressful. Moreover, many patients are afraid not only of the procedures themselves, but also of injections into the gum, "comments Eliot Hersh, a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the observers for the clinical testing of the spray.
Details of clinical trials are described in the popular scientific journal of the American Association of Dentists. The publication states that before the surgery for dental diseases, the participants received two injections of kovanaze. Between the injections, a time interval of four minutes was maintained: this was sufficient for a qualitative and effective local anesthetic. Only in some cases patients had to carry out a third injection.
One hundred and fifty volunteers took part in the testing of the new drug. At the same time, almost 90% of them spoke positively about anesthetic, recognizing it as an effective tool.
Within two hours after anesthesia, specialists observed the patients' well-being and the possible appearance of side-effects. Monitoring was conducted the next day after the experiment. It was found that some participants had a temporary nasal congestion, or watery discharge appeared. However, such symptoms were passing and did not pose a health hazard.
The next step for scientists will be testing a new anesthetic in children's practice.
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