Despite the long history of use of steroid ointments for oral mucositis, the analgesic mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of triamcinolone acetonide (Tmc) on oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain in conscious rats by our proprietary assay system. Based on evaluations of the physical properties and retention periods in the oral mucosa of human volunteers and rats, we selected TRAFUL^® ointment as a long-lasting base. In oral ulcerative mucositis model rats, TRAFUL^® with Tmc suppressed cyclooxygenase-dependent inflammatory responses with upregulations of glucocorticoid receptor-induced anti-inflammatory genes and inhibited spontaneous nociceptive behavior. When an ointment with a shorter residual period was used, the effects of Tmc were not elicited or were induced to a lesser extent. Importantly, TRAFUL^® with Tmc also improved oral ulcerative mucositis-induced mechanical allodynia, which has been reported to be independent of cyclooxygenase. Ca²⁺ imaging in dissociated trigeminal ganglion neurons showed that long-term preincubation with Tmc inhibited the hypertonic stimulation-induced Ca²⁺ response. These results suggest that the representative steroid Tmc suppresses oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain by general anti-inflammatory actions and inhibits mechanical sensitivity in peripheral nerves. For drug delivery, long-lasting ointments such as TRAFUL^® are needed to sufficiently induce the therapeutic effects.

Background/Objectives: This study compared the capabilities of four periodontal assessment instruments (CP11 probe, WHO probe, explorer, and #11/12 explorer) to detect subgingival calculus and assess calculus morphology when used by dental hygienists, with a focus on their clinical and educational relevance. Methods: Typodont models with artificially placed subgingival calculus of various shapes were used by 27 dental hygienists to assess the presence and morphology of calculus using each instrument, and a questionnaire on the usability of the #11/12 explorer was completed. Results: Subgingival calculus detection rates did not significantly differ between instruments in either entire mandibular jaw model or individual anterior and posterior regions. Calculus morphology detection did not differ for the entire model or anterior regions but did significantly differ in posterior regions, with the #11/12 explorer showing the highest detection accuracy. Morphology-dependent differences were observed between CP-11 and WHO probes. Qualitative analysis of free-text responses regarding #11/12 explorer use with KH Coder identified clusters related to tactile perception, operability, and experiential/educational aspects. Conclusions: Although the overall calculus detection performance did not significantly differ among the instruments, the #11/12 explorer demonstrated higher detection accuracy in the posterior regions and was favorably rated in terms of tactile feedback and operability. These findings suggest that the #11/12 explorer may be a useful instrument for subgingival calculus assessment and may have educational value for developing tactile assessment skills.