Efficacy of indigenously prepared 10% piper betel gel in pain reduction during periodontal probing: A split mouth study

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal probing is a crucial component of the periodontal examination that identifies the severity of the illness, but it can be painful and uncomfortable for individuals suffering from periodontitis. Even though betel leaves have been used extensively to treat a variety of diseases, their anaesthetic properties have not been thoroughly studied.Aim: To evaluate the anesthetic effect of 10% Piper betel gel versus 2% lignocaine gel in the reduction of pain, during probing in periodontitis patients.Methodology: 20 systematically healthy subjects were enrolled in the study with generalized probing pocket depth of ≥4mm. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups; Group A- 10% Piper betel gel and Group B- 2% lignocaine gel. After delivering the gel into the pocket, periodontal probing was carried out after 30 seconds using UNC-15 probe. Visual analog scale (VAS) and verbal rating scale (VRS) were recorded. Results: The results of this study shows that Piper betel gel is as effective as lignocaine gel in reducing pain during periodontal probing.Conclusion: Intra-pocket administration of Piper betel gel is effective for pain control during pocket probing in periodontitis patients. As it is a herbal formulation, it can be used to avoid the side effects of lignocaine.