Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Topical Anaesthetic Gel and Needle Free Jet Anaesthesia in Root Planing: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Although traditional local anaesthetic technique by injection is considered as gold standard for dental procedure, the resultant pain and anxiety caused by the needle prick makes the patient less compliant for further treatment. Many alternatives have been developed by the researchers in the last two decades. Jet anaesthesia and the topical gel are the commonly used alternatives to anaesthetise the local area.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of topical anaesthetic gel (MucopainR gel) and jet anaesthesia (Sure ShotR needle free jet injection) during root planing.

Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional split mouth study was conducted on 20 patients who required root planing in the maxillary quadrant bilaterally, where one quadrant was anaesthetised with benzocaine 20% (MucopainR) gel, and sure shotR jet anaesthesia was used on the adjacent quadrant. The side and order of placement of topical gel and jet anaesthesia were randomised. The same operator delivered anaesthesia on both the sides. The root planing was carried out by another operator at two sittings and pain was assessed immediately using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Verbal Response Scale Statistical .

Results: The mean NRS score of the jet injection group was 1.50±1.54 and that for the gel group was 3.15±2.16. Also, the mean VAS score of the jet injection group was 1.50±1.54 and that for the gel was 3.15±2.16. The difference between two groups were statistically significantly (p-value=0.008).

Conclusion: Jet anaesthesia was significantly superior to gel in providing anaesthesia during root planing.