Comparación en técnica anestésica de bloqueo del nervio alveolar inferior en estudiantes de Odontología de diferente año académico / Comparison in technique to the inferior alveolar nerve in dental students from different academic years

Introducción: Se comparó la técnica anestésica con el nervio alveolar inferior (NAI) realizada por estudiantes de cuarto y quinto año de la carrera de Odontología de la Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago. El objetivo: Fue evaluar la ejecución y éxito de la técnica previo a una extracción dental simple. Metodología: Los estudiantes fueron invitados a participar y firmaron un consentimiento. Se realizó una encuesta que contenía un protocolo informativo para el alumno con los pasos por seguir, luego, al finalizar su atención clínica debía responder una serie de preguntas de selección múltiple. Mediante esta encuesta se evaluó cuántos estudiantes pudieron lograr un correcto bloqueo del nervio alveolar inferior con solo 1 tubo de anestesia lidocaína al 2% y cuántos de estos requirieron de anestesia adicional después de haber inyectado el primer tubo de anestesia, antes de iniciar el procedimiento quirúrgico. También se cuantificó la cantidad de tubos de anestesia que usaron los alumnos para realizar la exodoncia de forma indolora y cuántos requirieron de un refuerzo anestésico adicional durante el intraoperatorio. Así se pudo realizar un análisis comparativo entre ambas generaciones de alumnos en relación con el empleo de la técnica anestésica. Resultados: De los 104 encuestados se obtuvo que un 57% de los estudiantes de 4º y un 65% de los de 5º año, lograron una correcta técnica anestésica al NAI con 1 solo tubo de anestesia. Conclusión: No existieron diferencias significativas con respecto al año académico y las variables estudiadas, exceptuando la necesidad de un refuerzo anestésico posterior a la comprobación de una técnica anestésica exitosa, donde los alumnos de 4to año necesitaron efectuar un mayor control del dolor intraoperatorio.

Introduction: The anesthetic technique to the inferior alveolar nerve (NAI) was compared between the performance by fourthand fifth-year students of the Dentistry career at the Andrés Bello University, Santiago. Objective: Was to evaluate the performance and success of the technique before a simple dental extraction. Methods: The students invited to participate signed an informed consent. A survey was conducted that contained an informative protocol for the student with the steps to follow, then, at the end of their clinical care, had to answer a series of multiple-choice questions. Through this survey, it was evaluated how many students could achieve a correct inferior alveolar nerve block with only 1 tube of anesthesia lidocaine 2% and how many required additional anesthesia after having injected the first tube of anesthesia, before starting the surgical procedure. Also, the amount of anesthesia tubes that the students used to perform the extraction in a painless way was quantified and how many required an additional anesthetic reinforcement intraoperatively. Thereby, a comparative analysis between both generations of students was carried out in relation to the use of the anesthetic technique. Results: Of the 104 participants, it was found that 57% of the 4th year students and 65% of the 5th year students achieved a correct anesthetic technique at the NAI with a single tube of anesthesia. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in relation to the academic year completed and the variables studied except for the need for anesthetic reinforcement after a successful anesthetic technique, where 4th year students needed to perform more intraoperative pain control.

Comparison Of Anaesthetic Efficacy Of Articaine And Lidocaine In Nonsurgical Endodontic Treatment Of Permanent Mandibular Molars With Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis. A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block (IANB) with Buccal Infiltration (BI) anaesthesia is required to completely anesthetize the mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. 4% Articaine and 2% Lidocaine provide local anaesthesia during the nonsurgical endodontic treatment of mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Objective of the study was to compare the effect of Articaine and Lidocaine in the combination of Inferior alveolar nerve block with buccal infiltration anaesthesia during the nonsurgical endodontic treatment of mandibular molars with symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis. METHODS: One hundred and sixty participants with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis of permanent mandibular molars were divided randomly in two groups. Group A was given Articaine 4% IANB along with BI whereas group B was given Lidocaine 2%. Pain was assessed after 15 minutes of administration of local anaesthesia. Anaesthetic success of the agents is defined as, absence of pain or mild pain first during the access cavity preparation then instrumentation of the canals of tooth. Chi-square test was applied to analyse data for statistical significance. RESULTS: Anaesthetic success of Articaine was 96.2% during access cavity preparation compared to Lidocaine (86.2%). Success during instrumentation of canals was also found to be high in Articaine (90.2%) compared to Lidocaine (76.2%). This difference of anaesthetic efficacy between Articaine and Lidocaine was found statistically significant. (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Articaine is found to be better than Lidocaine regarding anaesthetic efficacy and hence, it can be a safer alternative to Lidocaine.

Efficacy of greater auricular and auriculotemporal nerve blocks performed in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, duration and safety of greater auricular and auriculotemporal nerve blocks in rabbits. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, crossover, experimental study. ANIMALS: A total of 11 healthy adult Dutch-belted rabbits. METHODS: The rabbits underwent general anesthesia and injections of the greater auricular and auriculotemporal nerves using either bupivacaine (0.3 mL kg-1, 0.5%) or the same volume of saline. After anesthesia, the efficacy and duration of nerve blocks were assessed using analgesiometry forceps on the pinna and cotton-tipped applicators within the vertical ear canal. Rabbits were monitored for abnormal carriage of the ear and auriculopalpebral nerve block of the ipsilateral eye. Body weight, food intake, fecal output and fecal pellet diameter were measured daily for 6 days after the nerve blocks were performed and compared with baseline to assess short-term effects. RESULTS: The greater auricular nerve was successfully blocked in 12/16 (75%) ears for mean ± standard deviation duration of 88 ± 52 minutes. In successfully blocked ears, altered ear position was noted in five/16 (31%) cases. The auriculotemporal nerve was blocked in one/16 ears for 120 minutes. The auriculopalpebral nerve was inadvertently blocked in three/16 ears. Food intake and fecal output decreased significantly during the treatment day but returned to pretreatment values after 24 hours. There was no change in body weight or fecal pellet diameter for either treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results suggest that duration of the greater auricular nerve block with 0.5% bupivacaine was short-lived in the live rabbit. Auriculotemporal nerve block was only achieved in one ear; therefore, further studies are warranted to evaluate the contribution of these blocks in the pain management of rabbits undergoing auricular surgery.

Is the inferior occlusal plane a reliable anatomic landmark for inferior alveolar nerve block? A study on dry mandibles of Brazilian adults.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the mandibular foramen (MF) and the inferior occlusal plane (IOP) of anatomic specimens, in order to guide clinicians in the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). METHOD: Eighty-two dry mandibles (totally or partially toothed) of Brazilian adults were selected, totalizing 66 left and 66 right antimeres. A flat plate of rigid PVC plastic was placed on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth and pressure was then manually applied to simulate the IOP. Following, the perpendicular distance from the IOP to the lowest point of the MF was measured by the use of a digital caliper, adopting negative values inferiorly and positive values superiorly. RESULTS: Regarding the antimeres, the majority of the lowest limits of the MF was below the IOP (right: 86.4%, left: 81.8%) with a mean of -4.2mm (±4.8) in the right and -4.1mm (±4.8) in the left ones, without any statistical significance. Considering both sexes, no statistically significant difference was obtained between them. CONCLUSION: The IOP seems not to be a good anatomical landmark to localize the MF and, its turn, to guide clinicians during the IANB for Brazilian adults, given the marked topographic variations.

Anaesthetic efficacy of 2% lidocaine with different concentrations of epinephrine (1:80,000 and 1:200,000) in intraligamentary injection after a failed primary inferior alveolar nerve block: a randomized double-blind study.

Introduction: The present study evaluated the anaesthetic efficacy of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine vs. 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 given as supplemental intraligamentary injections after a failed inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. The effect of these solutions on the heart rate was also evaluated.Methods: One-hundred-eighteen adult patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpits in a mandibular first or second molar, received an initial IANB with 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine. Pain during the endodontic treatment was assessed using a visual analogue scale (Heft-Parker VAS). Eighty-eight patients with unsuccessful anaesthesia were randomly allocated to one of the two treatment groups: one group received 0.6 mL/root of supplementary intraligamentary injection of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine; while the second group received 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine. Endodontic treatment was re-initiated. Success after primary injection or supplementary injection was defined as no or mild pain (pain score ≤54 mm on HP VAS) during access preparation and root canal instrumentation. Heart rate was monitored using a finger pulse oximeter. The anaesthetic success rates were analyzed with the Pearson chi-square test at 5% significance levels. The heart rate changes were analyzed using the t-test.Results: The anaesthetic success rate in patients receiving supplementary intraligamentary injections in 1:80,000 epinephrine group was 82%, while the intraligamentary injections with 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine were successful in 57% of cases. The difference was statistically significant (χ2=6.4, p = .011). There was no significant effect of both the anaesthetic agents on the mean heart rate.Conclusions: Both 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine and 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine improved the success rates after a failed primary anaesthetic injection. The 1:80,000 epinephrine group was significantly more successful.

Ultrasound-Guided Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in the Horse: Assessment of the Extraoral Approach in Cadavers.

Blinded techniques to desensitize the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) include intraoral, angled, and vertical extraoral approaches with reported success rates of 100%, 73%, and 59%, respectively. It has not been determined whether an ultrasound-guided extraoral approach is feasible. Further, the fascicular nature of the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves of the horse has not been described. The objectives of this study were to describe a low-volume ultrasound-guided vertical extraoral inferior alveolar nerve block technique and to describe the fascicular nature of these nerves. An ultrasound-guided approach to the IAN was conducted with a microconvex transducer and an 18-G, 15-cm spinal needle using a solution containing iodinated-contrast and methylene blue dye. Accuracy was assessed by contrast visualized at the mandibular foramen on computed tomography (CT) and methylene blue dye staining of the nerves on gross dissection. Sections of inferior alveolar and lingual nerves were submitted for histological analysis. Assessment by CT and dissection determined success rates of 81.3% and 68.8%, respectively; 68.8% of injections had inadvertent methylene blue dye staining of the lingual nerve. Nerve histology revealed both the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves to be multifascicular in nature. Mean fascicle counts for the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves were 29 and 30.8, respectively. The technique is challenging and no more accurate than previously published blinded techniques. Any extraoral approach to the IAN is likely to also desensitize the lingual nerve.

Effect of Premedication on the Success of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in Patients with Irreversible Pulpitis: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Failure in the provision of inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia (IANB) is a significant problem during endodontic treatment of irreversible pulpitis. Various methodologies have been advocated one of which is administration of premedication prior to anesthesia. Despite the considerable number of reports, the topic yet deserves more clarification. This systematic review was conducted to provide an oversight on the effectiveness of premedication prior to IANB in mandibular teeth. METHODS: A PubMed and Cochrane Database search was conducted by using MeSH terms inferior alveolar nerve block + pulpitis and mandibular anesthesia+pulpitis. Two reviewers independently performed the screening, selection of papers, and data extraction. Papers in English language that included randomized clinical studies on the impact of different medications on the success of inferior alveolar block anesthesia in irreversible pulpitis were included. Additionally, relevant supporting literature was also used where necessary. RESULTS: Initially, 118 papers were selected from PubMed and 68 were selected from Cochrane. Five additional articles were retrieved from Google Search. Following the elimination of duplicates and irrelevant articles, 35 studies were selected meeting the criteria. It was observed that there was moderate evidence to suggest that some premedications were partially effective for the enhancement of mandibular anesthetic effect in irreversible pulpitis. CONCLUSION: Though some medications appear to be promising, further supporting research will help highlight this significant topic which requires further clarification.

Anesthetic efficacy of mental/incisive nerve block compared to inferior alveolar nerve block using 4% articaine in mandibular premolars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the onset, success rate, injection pain, and post-injection pain of mental/incisive nerve block (MINB) with that of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) using 4% articaine in mandibular premolars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. The accuracy of electrical pulp test (EPT) in determining pulpal anesthesia was also examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a randomized clinical trial with two study arms-MINB and IANB. Injections were performed using a standardized technique. Root canal treatment was initiated 10 min after the injection. Success was defined as no pain or mild pain during access cavity preparation and instrumentation. Injection pain and post-injection pain (up to 7 days) were recorded. All pain ratings were done using Heft-Parker Visual Analog Scale (HP VAS). RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled. The success rate of MINB (93.8%) was higher than IANB (81.2%) but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The onset of anesthesia with MINB was significantly quicker, and injection pain was significantly less (p < 0.05), but post-injection pain was significantly higher during the first 4 days (p < 0.001). The accuracy of EPT in determining pulpal anesthesia was 96.88%. CONCLUSIONS: MINB and IANB with 4% articaine had similar efficacy in anesthetizing mandibular premolars with irreversible pulpitis. Post-injection pain with MINB was higher than with IANB. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: MINB and IANB with 4% articaine can be used interchangeably to anesthetize mandibular premolars with irreversible pulpitis.

Deoxycholic Acid and the Marginal Mandibular Nerve: A Cadaver Study.

BACKGROUND: One of the rare but serious complications observed with deoxycholic acid administration is damage to the marginal mandibular nerve. In this study, we evaluated if deoxycholic acid directly induces histologic damage to fresh cadaveric marginal mandibular nerve. METHODS: A segment of marginal mandibular nerve was harvested from 12 hemifaces of 6 fresh cadavers. The nerve specimen was exposed to either 0.9% sterile saline for 24 h, deoxycholic acid (10 mg/ml) for 20 min, or deoxycholic acid (10 mg/ml) for 24 h. The nerve specimens were then fixed in glutaraldehyde for a minimum of 24 h. Toluidine blue stained sections were evaluated for stain intensity using light microscopy and color deconvolution image analysis. Supraplatysmal fat was harvested as a positive control and exposed to the same treatments as the marginal mandibular nerve specimens, then evaluated using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Toluidine blue staining was less in the marginal mandibular nerve exposed to deoxycholic acid when compared to saline. The specimen exposed to deoxycholic acid for 24 h showed less toluidine blue staining than that of the nerve exposed to deoxycholic acid for 20 min. Transmission electron microscopy of submental fat exposed to deoxycholic acid revealed disruption of adipocyte cell membrane integrity and loss of cellular organelles when compared to specimens only exposed to saline. CONCLUSIONS: Deoxycholic acid (10 mg/ml) damages the marginal mandibular nerve myelin sheath in fresh human cadaver specimens. Direct deoxycholic acid neurotoxicity may cause marginal mandibular nerve injury clinically. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Assessment of morphological and anatomical characteristics of mental foramen using cone beam computed tomography.

PURPOSE: To determine the shape, position, vertical height, surrounding bone characteristics, and opening angle of mental foramen (MF) using dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 663 patients. CBCT records analyzed for the shape, position, and surrounding bone measurements of the MF using Simplant 3D software (Hasselt, Belgium). Opening angle of MF was also assessed. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to test significant differences between parameters, genders and ages. RESULTS: All mental foramina were visualized. Regarding location, 49.2% of the MFs were located between first and second premolars, 7.7 distal and 39.7% coincident to the apex of the mandibular second premolar. The mean MF opening angle was 45.4° on the right side, and 45.9° on the left. There were no statistically differences between gender groups with regard to the opening angle degrees. CONCLUSIONS: This study may provide useful information about variations in the position, shape and size, angle of mental foramen, which may help the practitioners to perform safer mental nerve blocks and surgical procedures.

Buccal infiltration versus inferior alveolar nerve block in mandibular 2nd premolars with irreversible pulpitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the success rates of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) and buccal infiltration anesthesia of mandibular second premolar with irreversible pulpitis and to evaluate the level of patient discomfort with these methods. MATHERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients, who had irreversible pulpitis in the mandibular 2nd premolar teeth, were included in the study. Patients were randomly distributed in two groups. In one group IANB, in the other group buccal infiltration anesthesia were performed. The efficacy of these two different anesthesia techniques on the related teeth was investigated with the Heft-Parker visual analog scale. In addition, with a pulse oximetry device, the changes in the patients' heart rates were compared between the groups. The obtained data were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: Both anesthesia techniques reduced the pain significantly in patients before the administration (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference among the groups regarding the pain control and success rates of anesthesia (P > 0.05). Both of the anesthesia techniques increased the heart rate (P < 0.05). The increase in the heart rate of the patients was significantly higher in the buccal infiltration anesthesia group than the other anesthesia group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this in vivo study, there was no difference between the efficacies of the buccal infiltration anesthesia and IANB anesthesia in the mandibular 2nd premolar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Buccal infiltration anesthesia caused more discomfort in the patients compared with the IANB during the administration.

A Novel Technique of Ultrasound-Guided Selective Mandibular Nerve Block With a Lateral Pterygoid Plate Approach: A Cadaveric Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe a novel technique of ultrasound-guided selective mandibular nerve block with a lateral pterygoid plate (LPP) approach and to assess its feasibility and accuracy in a soft cadaver model. METHODS: Ten soft cadavers were studied. A curved array ultrasound transducer was applied over 1 side of the face of the cadaver, in an open-mouth position. The transducer was placed transversely below the zygomatic arch and tilted in the caudal-to-cranial direction to identify the boundary of the LPP. The needle was inserted in-plane, in an anterior-to-posterior direction, into the posterior border of the uppermost part of the LPP, and 3 mL of methylene blue was injected. RESULTS: Mandibular nerve block was successfully performed in all 10 cadavers using an LPP approach under ultrasound guidance. The mandibular nerve and its branches were seen to be stained with methylene blue in all cadaveric specimens. No accidental injection into the facial nerve or maxillary artery was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This cadaveric study suggests that this novel technique, using an LPP approach under ultrasound guidance, is helpful for selective mandibular nerve block, with high accuracy and feasibility. Further studies are required to establish its safety and efficacy for clinical application. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.in.th), identifier TCTR20160601004.

Modulation of incisor eruption in rats by sympathetic efferents.

INTRODUCTION: Intact neural supply is necessary for tooth eruption. Sympathetic denervation accelerates or decelerates the eruption rate depending on the tooth condition (intact or injured). The aim of this study is to reexamine the role of the sympathetic innervation, through the observation of the effects of pre or post ganglionic chemical sympathectomy on the eruption of intact rat incisors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different groups of rats were subjected to either ganglionic or peripheral chemical sympathectomy and the observed effects on incisor eruption were compared to those made on intact/sham groups or on rats subjected to inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) lesion. RESULTS: The total amount of eruption in control/naïve rats, measured over a total period of 144 h, was 3 ±â€¯0.15 mm and decreased to 2.57 ±â€¯0.06 mm (n = 8; p < 0.01) or 2.8 ±â€¯0.10 mm (n = 8; p < 0.05) following treatment with guanethidine and hexamethonium, respectively. This amount decreased to 1.8 ±â€¯0.14 mm (p < 0.001 vs. control, n = 7; or p < 0.01 vs. sham, n = 5) in rats subjected to IAN lesion. CONCLUSION: Sympathectomy delayed tooth eruption. Blocking the sympathetic effectors with guanethidine exerted more potent effects than ganglionic block with hexamethonium. Intact sympathetic supply is required for tooth growth under normal conditions.

Effect of intraosseous injection versus inferior alveolar nerve block as primary pulpal anaesthesia of mandibular posterior teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to assess the success rate, effect on blood pressure, and pain of intraosseous injection (IO) and inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) for pulpal anaesthesia of mandibular posterior teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis as the primary anaesthetic technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial (IRCT2013022712634N1) was conducted on 60 patients between 18 and 65 years suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular posterior tooth. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group one received IO while group two received IANB with 3% mepivacaine. After anaesthetic injection, success rate of pulpal anaesthesia was assessed by pulp testing in the two groups. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures of patients were compared before and after the anaesthetic injections. Level of pain during injection was scored using a visual analogue scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, t-test and chi square test at p = .05 level of significance. RESULTS: Success rate of IO (56.7%) was significantly higher than that of IANB (23.3%) (p = .008). There was no significant difference in pain during anaesthetic injection (p = .304) or change in systolic (p = .80) and diastolic (p = .28) blood pressures following injection between the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: IO had a higher success rate than IANB for pulpal anaesthesia of mandibular posterior teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Neither technique provided profound pulpal anaesthesia.

Transient Amaurosis and Diplopia After Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block.

A 40-year-old female patient was admitted to the authors' oral and maxillofacial clinic for removal of her lower left second molar under local anesthesia. The patient's medical history revealed that she had cardiac arhythmia and hypertension. Inferior alveolar nerve block was achieved using 2 mL of sefacaine (%3 mepivacaine HCL, without epinephrine). The patient complained of loss of vision in her left eye. All procedures were stopped immediately. Within 2 minutes the patient reported diplopia. All of the symptoms disappeared about 5 minutes after initial observation. Follow-up after 1 day revealed no complications. The procedure was then performed uneventfully.

Infiltrative local anesthesia with articaine is equally as effective as inferior alveolar nerve block with lidocaine for the removal of erupted molars.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline given as buccal and lingual infiltration in adult patients undergoing erupted mandibular first and second molar teeth extraction versus inferior alveolar nerve block technique using 2% lignocaine with 1:80,000 adrenaline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients undergoing extraction of mandibular posterior teeth were divided into two equally matched groups for the study, out of which 50 patients were given 4% articaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline as buccal and lingual infiltration and 50 patients were given 2% lignocaine with 1:80,000 adrenaline using classic direct inferior alveolar nerve block with lingual and buccal nerve block. Efficacy of anesthesia was determined using a numeric analog scale (NAS) ranging from 0 indicating no pain to 10 indicating the worst pain imaginable. The NAS was taken by a different operator to avoid bias. RESULTS: The pain scores in both groups were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and a p value of 0.338 was obtained which is not statistically significant. Hence, no significant difference in the pain score was established between both groups. The adverse effects of both the local anesthetics if any were noted. CONCLUSION: From this study, we concluded that the use of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline is as effective as inferior alveolar nerve block with lignocaine but without the risk of attendant adverse effects of inferior alveolar nerve block technique.

Comparative Evaluation of Anesthetic Efficacy of 2% Lidocaine, 4% Articaine, and 0.5% Bupivacaine on Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in Patients with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind Clinical Trial.

AIMS: To compare the anesthetic efficacy of 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine, 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, and 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine on producing inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. METHODS: A total of 91 adult patients who were actively experiencing mandibular molar pain were involved in this study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups on the basis of the anesthetic solution used. The first group received IANB with 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine, the second group received IANB with 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, and the third group received IANB with 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine. After 15 minutes of IANB, conventional endodontic access preparation was started. The pain during the treatment was noted on a Heft-Parker visual analog scale (HP VAS). The primary outcome measure was anesthetic success, and anesthesia was considered successful if the patient reported no pain or weak/mild pain (HP VAS score < 55 mm) during endodontic treatment (pulp access and canal preparation procedures). The data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and chi-square test. RESULTS: The anesthetic success rates of 2% lidocaine, 4% articaine, and 0.5% bupivacaine were 23%, 33%, and 17%, respectively. The differences were statistically insignificant (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The 2% lidocaine solution used for IANB had similar success rates when compared with 4% articaine and 0.5% bupivacaine.

Dexamethasone promotes regeneration of crushed inferior alveolar nerve by inhibiting NF-κB activation in adult rats.

PURPOSE: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), which is closely related to inflammation, has become a topic of interest for research. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of dexamethasone (Dex), an inhibitor of NF-κB, on inferior alveolar nerve injury in adult rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The crushed inferior alveolar model is established in Wistar rats and they are randomly divided into three groups according to treatment: pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), dexamethasone (Dex), and saline (physiological saline). After treatment, the rats are respectively sacrificed at 3, 7, and 14d, and inferior alveolar nerves are extracted for histochemical and western blot analysis. RESULT: Compared with the PDTC and saline groups, nerve fibers in the Dex group are regularly arranged with few vacuoles, which is similar to normal inferior alveolar nerves. Immunofluorescent results show significantly decreased NF-κB expression in the Dex group. Western bolt shows higher expression of GAP-43 and lower expression of NF-κB. CONCLUSION: Taken together, all results show that dexamethasone significantly improved the regeneration of crushed inferior alveolar nerves by inhibiting NF-κB activation in adult rats.

The effect of preoperative submucosal administration of tramadol on the success rate of inferior alveolar nerve block on mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

AIM: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was designed to improve the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) in mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP) by means of preoperative submucosal administration of 50 mg tramadol. METHODOLOGY: Forty-two patients with a mandibular molar diagnosed with SIP took part in the trial. Patients were assigned randomly to one of two groups: tramadol group (n = 21), who received 50 mg tramadol in 1 mL by mandibular infiltration, and a placebo group (n = 21), who received 1 mL of normal saline administered to the affected tooth by the same means. Ten minutes later, all patients received an IANB with 4% articaine with epinephrine 1 : 100 000. A 10-min waiting time was established after local anaesthetic (LA) administration before carrying out three consecutive tests to assess anaesthesia of the pulp, that is two consecutive negative responses to an electric pulp test, positive or negative response to a cold test and no pain during access cavity preparation. IANB was considered successful only if the patient did not experience pain arising from these tests. Data were analysed by the Chi-squared frequency test and the Fisher's exact test, for qualitative variables, Mann-Whitney U-test for independent samples and two-way anova for more than two independent samples. RESULTS: In the tramadol group IANB was achieved successfully in 57% of the sample, whilst the placebo group obtained 29%. The difference between groups was not significant (P = 0.06). When performing endodontic access, the anaesthetic success rate was significantly in favour of tramadol (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative submucosal administration of 50 mg tramadol in mandibular molars with SIP significantly improved the success of IANB using 4% articaine with 1 : 100 000 epinephrine during access cavity preparation in comparison with a placebo.