http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/14/gumease-dental-mouthpiece-numbs-without-needles/

Letsconnect posted this up at my forum.  I've never heard of it until
she mentioned it.  Someone else posted about it as well at the
Dentalcom.net forum.  My first impression was "Yeah, I doubt this
works," but the extraction video sure seems convincing.

For those unaware of it, gumEase is a frozen plastic frame that
resembles an origami glowstick that fits into the buccal sulcuses
(sulci? sulkies?).  It's allowed to sit for a few minutes apparently
numbing up the teeth enough to perform things like dental
extractions.  In the sample video, it looks like the dentist did a
pretty easy root fragment extraction, and I wonder if there was any
palatal anesthesia.

I bet it contains the same stuff in those freezer packs, but I wonder
how it works exactly.  I can understand the cooling effect on numbing
soft tissues up a bit, but would it cool the bone and dental
innervation enough to reduce sensation?  Does it work on accupuncture
like principles?  Geez, I may as well tell my patients to stick a
Kisko Freezie in before coming in for their visit.  ;-)

Zzzdentist
www.dentalminds.com