BACKGROUND:

Pain puncture during local dental anesthesia, can be reduced using a topical anesthetic, avoiding dental anesthesia associated with pain.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of two oral topical anesthesics: a) Lidocaine/Prilocaine (patch) 5% vs b) Benzocaine (gel) 20%, in paediatric patients.

DESIGN:

Clinical comparative study.60 patients divided into two experimental groups: a) and b), we apply a topical anesthesia to them, before realizing the puncture with dental needle caliber 30. Evaluation of the pain was based on the scale SEM (sound, eyes and motor), additionally we registered the oxygen saturation of and frequency of the heart rate.

RESULTS:

60 children of both genders from 3 to 9 years old participated in the study. The variable pain occurred in 15% of the study population (9 participants), of which 6 were female and 3 male. The statistical analysis showed a major efficiency of the patch. (P=0.025).

CONCLUSIONS:

The application of the patch was more effective in reducing the pain that produces the puncture of the needle of dental anesthesia.