The analgesic effect of the gel-form drug (TG-079) containing phenol-camphor to toothache and its tissue toxicity to teeth were investigated with incisors of rabbits and rats. The analgesic effect was studied measuring the jaw opening reflex by stimuli applied to the tooth pulp plimarily afferent after the application of TG-079 to the pulp cavity. The tissue toxicity experiment was performed with TG-079 applied to the pulp cavity and the dentine of rabbit incisors. The following results were obtained:
(1) A significant analgesic effect was found with the application of TG-079 to the pulp cavities of rabbits and rats. The analgesic effect of TG-079 lasted longer than with camphorated phenol.
(2) Signs of a weak analgesic effect were observed when TG-079 was applied to the prepared cavities in the dentine of rabbits and rats.
(3)The tissue toxicities of TG-079, camphorated phenol, and physiological saline solution were nearly equal when they were checked 24 hours after the drugs had been applied to the pulp cavity of rabbit. However, no signs of toxicity were noted when the drugs were applied to the prepared cavity of the dentine of rabbits.
These results demonstrate that the TG-079 applied to the dental cavity has a strong analgesic effect on the dental pulp and signs of a weak analgesic effect when it is applied on the surface of the dentine.