This is an indirect laser dentistry post but felt would be more appropriately placed here where might have a higher read rate by the Forum membership. Many times topical anesthetic gels are a useful tool for laser soft tissue procedures. A copy of my post on Dental Town/Anesthesiology/Tricaine Blue is provided:

Early Report on our Use of “Tricaine Blue”

Only used two weeks but material appears to work well for soft tissue topical anesthesia as reported by others on Dental Town. Tricaine Blue is 10 % Lidocaine 10% Prilocaine 4% Tetracaine. Adheres well to dried oral tissue and is colored a medium-light blue so one can see exactly where topical was placed. If you keep saliva off the application site the material stays in place.

We are applying a pea sized amount of material with a cotton tipped applicator by rubbing/burnishing for 90 seconds. Patients show little response to a slow, gradual lidocaine/articaine(no arti for IAN blocks) with 30 gauge needle. As yet have observed no tissue damage or systemic effects such as increased heart rate(I do not use this material on pedo patients). After completing my injection, I wipe off the blue topical gel with a 2 X 2 and have assistant rinse patient. So far patients have not complained about taste using this technique.

Do not have much comparative experience in regards to TAC gel alternative. Dave Kimmel gave me a sample of TAC gel which appeared to work well. Tricaine Blue appears to work at least as well as the original EMLA which I obtained from Astra.

Obtained my “Tricaine Blue” compounded as “Topical Anesthetic Gel” from John Hollis, pharmacist in Tennessee. Phone number (615)-327-3234. They will fax you a prescription to write and fax back with your order. A large, 30g, squeezable tube is &#3635. There is an &#3611 shipping/handling fee. Smaller sized samples are available but they are not “free”.

Al