EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF NOVEL HERBAL TOPICAL ANESTHETIC GEL AND 2% LIGNOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE GEL DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL ANESTHESIA IN CHILDREN: AN IN VIVO STUDY

ISHANI RAHATE; PUNIT FULZELE; NILIMA THOSAR; ANITA WANJARI; ANJORI RAUT; RIJUTA GUJAR; SHEPALI HULE

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i11.54539

Authors

ISHANI RAHATE Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Datta Meghe University of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
PUNIT FULZELE Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Datta Meghe University of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1048-3144
NILIMA THOSAR Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Datta Meghe University of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
ANITA WANJARI Rasshastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College Hospital and Research centre, Datta Meghe University of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
ANJORI RAUT Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Datta Meghe University of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7528-5959
RIJUTA GUJAR Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Datta Meghe University of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
SHEPALI HULE Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Datta Meghe University of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i11.54539

Keywords:

Topical anesthetics, Intraoral injection, Pain perception, Herbal topical gel

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of a novel herbal topical anesthetic gel compared to conventional 2% lignocaine hydrochloride gel during local anesthesia administration in children.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial with 42 children aged 5–14 years was conducted. Participants were divided into two groups (n=21 each): Group A received 2% lignocaine gel, and Group B received herbal gel. Pain response was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), sound eye motor (SEM) scale, and hedonic 9-point scale. An independent t-test was used for intergroup comparison.

Results: The mean VAS scores were 5.67±1.32 for lignocaine and 5.19±0.87 for herbal gel (p=0.175). SEM scores were 3.19±0.75 for lignocaine and 2.95±0.86 for herbal gel (p=0.346), indicating no statistically significant differences in pain perception. However, the hedonic 9-point scale showed significantly higher taste acceptability for the herbal gel (5.86±1.15) compared to lignocaine (3.52±0.98), with a p<0.001.

Conclusion: While both gels demonstrated similar efficacy in pain control, the herbal gel was significantly more palatable, suggesting it may be a more child-friendly alternative in pediatric dentistry.

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