The Clinical Efficacy of EMLA as a Topical Anesthetic Agent Instead of Palatal Injection During Maxillary Dental Extractions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Even after the invention of the modern injection techniques, palatal injection still remains a painful experience for patients, and this pain is attributed to the presence of rich nerve complement and displacement of tightly adherent palatal mucosa during anesthesia. Aim To check the clinical efficacy of EMLA as a topical anesthetic agent instead of palatal injection during maxillary dental extractions. Methodology The trial includes a total of 102 participants, in whom maxillary molar extractions were indicated, were randomly divided into the experimental group (eutectic mixture of local anesthesia (EMLA) topical application was used along with buccal injection) and control group (palatal injection along with buccal injection). Pain perception during extraction was recorded using the visual analog scale (VAS). Results Mean VAS score for 'injection' in control group patients was 5.2 +/- 2.08 in contrast to no pain in experimental group. In experimental group, mean VAS score on 'probing' was 0.92 +/- 1.50. VAS score on 'extraction' in EMLA group was little higher though the difference was not statistically significant. The overall experience using Liekert's scale was higher in experimental group (4.0 +/- 0.76) as compared to (3.3 +/- 0.82) in control group leading to higher overall satisfaction among patients who underwent extraction in the experimental group. Conclusion EMLA application produced a satisfactory level of anesthesia in the palatal tissue when compared with the palatal injection.