What is EMLA? | Dental Treatment Guide


EMLA stands for the eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics. It is a combination of lidocaine and prilocaine and comes in the form of liquid. Today, EMLA is only approved for anaesthesia for intact skin and should not be used inside the mouth. This is because EMLA can reach the bloodstream very quickly after it has been applied in the mouth. There are no dosing guidelines for its use at the dentist’s office. Studies have shown that EMLA in the mouth provides better anaesthesia than lidocaine ointments by five percent in certain procedures. Right now, EMLA use for the mouth is still being developed.

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