Too slow patient inclusion and superior effect of the injection

A randomised cross-over study comparing two methods of local anaesthesia for patients diagnosed with periodontitis undergoing scaling and root planning. 40 patients will be included in the study, which aims to demonstrate that the effect of a bupivacaine lozenge is non-inferior to lidocaine-adrenalin injections.

40 periodontitis patients undergoing scaling and root planning (SRP) will be randomised to receive local anaesthesia by either a bupivacaine lozenge or lidocaine-adrenalin injection at their first visit. At the following visit, the patients will receive the opposite treatment.

At each visit the patient will evaluate pain before, during and after SRP by:

• Visual Analog Scale (VAS) 0-10 where 0 = no pain, 10 = extreme pain.
• McGills Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), which gives a qualitative pain profile.

At each visit the patient will evaluate discomfort before, during and after the SRP by:

- Visual Analog Scale (VAS) 0-10 where 0 = no discomfort, 10 = extreme discomfort.

Additionally the patient assesses the comfort of administration of the two local anaesthesia as well as the taste of the bupivacaine lozenge. The investigator also evaluates the scaling procedure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed as having, respectively periodontitis marginalis adulta progressiva lenta and periodontitis marginalis adulta progressiva rapid in the hygiene phase, where depurations are repeated within a short timeframe
• Age between 18 and 80 years
• Ability to speak, read and understand danish
• Ability to give oral and written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known allergy to bupivacaine or other local anaesthetics of the amide type
• Other gingival infections (eg lichen planus)
• Pregnancy -if in doubt a pregnancy test will be made
• Breastfeeding