The Palliative Effects of Lidocaine with Adrenaline on Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS)

To study the beneficial effect of lidocaine with adrenaline used for alliavation of pain in routine dental procedures on patients with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS). Thirty RAS patients with no known history of any systemic conditions, who reported for the first time for treatment between 2003/2004 at the Dental Centre of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, were selected for this study. The patients had ulcers located on the tongue, floor of the mouth and the buccal mucosa. They were randomly selected into two groups of fifteen each. The first group was taught how to apply the solutions, using the syringe, of 2% lidocaine and the second group 2% lidocaine in 1:80000 adrenaline. The time the solution was applied and the resultant effect before the start of their meals and when the feeling of pain became apparent, were noted. Graphic word rating scale was used to access the level of pain before and after solution application. Complete relief of pain associated with the ulcer after the application of either solutions of lidocaine was reported by 86.7%. 66.7% of patients who used lidocaine solution had a shorter period of onset of pain relief while the reverse was the case with the other group. Patients that used lidocaine with adrenaline solution, reported a longer period of pain relief as compared to lidocaine without adrenaline. During this period the patients under study took their meals in comfort. Lidocaine with adrenaline solution could be incorporated with other methods of managing RAS. This is mostly important in the early period of the ulcers, since it gives a faster and almost complete relief of pain during mealtime.