At the dentist: duct tape can replace injectable anesthesia –

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Do you shiver just thinking about the tools the dentist puts in your mouth? When it involves a bite, then even worse! Calm down, science is there to help you. Researchers from the Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dentistry at the University of São Paulo, in Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of São Paulo, have developed an adhesive tape that promises to take the place of injectable anesthesia.

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The product is a kind of adhesive plaster made with a vegetable cellulose derivative, a biocompatible and biodegradable material. The tests carried out by the USP scientists show that the tape reduces both superficial and deep painful sensations. The anesthetic action begins five minutes after the film adheres to the gingival mucosa and reaches its maximum effect between 15 and 25 minutes after application. The total duration is 50 minutes – the average time for a dental procedure.

Researcher Renê Oliveira do Couto, who is part of the team that led the work, says that there is still a lack of studies to confirm mucoadhesives as substitutes for anesthetic injections, mainly in invasive and complex surgeries. But, in the case of microsurgeries such as extraction of baby teeth and dental scaling and curettage in adults, these tapes can be effective.

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According to Couto, these results mean advances, as they increase the safety of both patients and dentists. In the day-to-day practice, before applying anesthesia, the professional usually tries to alleviate the discomfort by massaging the area on the gums with gel, ointment or anesthetic cream. “But these formulas are not effective due to little or no mucoadhesion, which causes the drugs to be washed away by saliva and brings more discomfort to the patient due to the unpleasant taste”, explains the scholar. The new tapes, on the other hand, remain glued to the mucosa throughout the application time.

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In order to try to completely replace the needles, the next investigations by the Brazilian team will compare formulas, test sensitivity and adherence. Let’s hope that the experts come to conclusions that make going to the dentist less painful, right?