Can a single shot of long-acting anesthetic ease gum surgery pain for longer?
NCT ID NCT07725731
First seen Jul 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026
Summary
This trial tests whether a long-acting anesthetic called liposomal bupivacaine can reduce pain after gum surgery better than the standard medium-acting anesthetic. Adults scheduled for gum surgery on 2 to 5 teeth will receive one of the two anesthetics injected near the surgical site after the procedure. Participants will report their pain levels and painkiller use over the following days to see which option provides better relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel) or standard bupivacaine with epinephrine
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer longer-lasting pain relief after gum surgery, reducing the need for painkillers.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with only 58 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The long-acting anesthetic may cause prolonged numbness or other side effects.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
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