Nasal Spray Anesthetic to Replace the Dentist's Needle?

[Todd Welch]

Modern dentistry has eliminated much of the "ouch!" from getting a shot of dental local anesthetic. Now a new discovery may replace the dental needle used to give local anesthetic in the dentist's chair for many procedures.Scientists are reporting evidence that a common local anesthetic, when administered to the nose as nose drops or a nasal spray, travels through the main nerve in the face and collects in high concentrations in the teeth, jaw, and structures of
the mouth.

The discovery could lead to a new generation of nasal drug delivery systems for noninvasive treatment for dental pain, migraine, and other conditions, the scientists suggest in American Chemical Society's bi-monthly journal Molecular Pharmaceutics. The article is scheduled for the journal's May-June issue.

William H. Frey II, Ph.D., and colleagues note that drugs administered to the nose travel along nerves and go directly to the brain. One of those nerves is the trigeminal nerve, which brings
feelings to the face, nose and mouth. Until now, however, scientists
never checked to see whether intranasal drugs passing along that nerve
might reach the teeth, gums and other areas of the face and mouth to
reduce pain sensations in the face and mouth.

Trigeminal Nerve: Innervation to the teeth

Neil Johnson, working in the labs of Frey and Leah R. Hanson, Ph.D., at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., found that lidocaine or Xylocaine, sprayed into the noses of laboratory rats, quickly traveled
down the trigeminal nerve
and collected in their teeth, jaws, and mouths at levels 20 times
higher than in the blood or brain. The approach could provide a more
effective and targeted method for treating dental pain and dental anxiety, trigeminal neuralgia (severe facial pain), migraine, and other conditions, the scientists say.

Dental Needle

Furthermore, these scientists discovered an improved future location to administer anesthetic, the maxillary sinus. The maxillary sinus is a golfball-sized space located underneath each cheek where drug can be sprayed. Delivery into this confined space may
be the next generation approach beyond a nasal spray in providing a
more rapid and focused delivery of dental anesthetic.

For more information contact Dr. Todd Welch with West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants in Jackson, TN at http://www.wtnperioblog.com