Painful injections in the dentist's chair could soon become a thing of the past. Researchers from the University of Buffalo in the U.S. have devised a nasal spray that could replace needles for most procedures.
In clinical tests, the spray, Kovacaine Mist, was found to be as effective as standard anaesthetics in four out of five patients, reports The Independent in the UK.
"Patients anxious of the dentist are, in theory, likely to have poorer oral health than those who get regular check-ups," said chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation Nigel Carter, according to The Independent. "This nasal spray could be a very promising addition to any dental practice."
In the US, some 75 percent of adults reportedly experience some degree of dental fear, while around 15 percent of Brits suffer from dental anxiety, according to the British Dental Association.
According to the report, the US Food and Drug Administration is conducting safety trials, and final product approval could be reached by next year, according to the manufacturer, S. Renatus LLC.
