Modern dentistry has eradicated much of the "ow!" from getting a shot of local anaesthetic. Now a fresh discovery may put back the needle used to give local anesthetic in the dentist's chair for many functions. Scientists are describing evidence that a common local anaesthetic, when dealt out to the nose as nose drops or a nasal bone spray, goes by the primary nerve in the face and gathers in high concentrations in the teeth, jaw, and structures of the mouth.
William H. Frey II, Ph.D., and colleagues note that drugs dealt out to the nose follow nerves and go direct to the brain. Among those nerves is the trigeminal nerve, which brings feelings to the face, nose and mouth. Hitherto, however, scientists never agreed to assure whether intranasal drugs exceeding along that nerve may reach the teeth, gums and other areas of the face and mouth to cut down pain sensations in the face and mouth.