COMPARISON OF TOPICAL APPLICATION OF ICE VERSUS 2PERCENT LIGNOCAINE GEL IN REDUCING ORAL MUCOSAL INJECTION PAIN A SPLIT MOUTH STUDY

This study aims to compare the efficacy of topical ice application versus 2% lignocaine gel in reducing oral mucosal pain during buccal and palatal injections for bilateral extraction of maxillary premolars. The primary objective is to evaluate pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) after each method of anesthesia administration. Additionally, heart rate changes during injections will be assessed using a digital pulse oximeter. The study hypothesizes that topical ice is as effective as lignocaine gel in reducing injection pain.

Twenty patients aged 18-30 years, meeting inclusion criteria and without exclusion criteria, will participate in this randomized controlled split-mouth clinical trial at KVG Dental College & Hospital. Each patient will receive both forms of anesthesia (ice application and lignocaine gel) during separate extraction sessions, randomly assigned to either side of the mouth.

Procedure involves topical anesthesia application using standardized techniques. Pain assessment will be immediate post-injection using the VAS, where a score of 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates severe pain. Heart rate variations will be monitored throughout the procedure.

This study contributes to understanding the comparative effectiveness of topical ice versus lignocaine gel in dental anesthesia, potentially influencing clinical practice guidelines to optimize patient comfort and procedural outcomes.