BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 24 The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine is testing a nasal spray that numbs the upper teeth, which could mean the end of dental injections.
If this study is successful, it may mean the end of dental injections when dentists are performing procedures on the upper arch, said Sebastian Ciancio, principal investigator on the study. The nasal-spray study is testing the effectiveness in dental procedures of a topical anesthetic normally used by ear, nose and throat physicians when they operate on the nose. Patients who received this anesthetic for that purpose reported it also numbed their upper teeth, sparking interest in using it for dental procedures, according to Ciancio.
We currently are testing to determine what the optimal dose is for this spray when used as an anesthetic agent for the maxillary -- upper -- teeth, said Ciancio. The current study includes 85 patients and should be completed by the end of January and will be followed by a second study in March. Once we know the results, we'll then test it in a broader population.
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