Efficacy of Different Techniques of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block for Mandibular Anesthesia: A Comparative Prospective Study.

Background The inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is a commonly employed technique in oral surgery for achieving profound anesthesia in the mandibular teeth and associated structures. Several techniques have been developed to enhance the success rate and patient comfort during the IANB. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the efficacy of different IANB techniques for mandibular anesthesia.  Materials and methods The participants included in the study were adults requiring surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar teeth. A total of 100 participants were randomly assigned to five different groups representing various techniques of IANB, i.e., conventional Halsted technique, Vazirani-Akinosi technique, Gow-Gates technique, Fischer 1-2-3, and extraoral Kurt-Thoma technique, with 20 participants in each group. The participants were evaluated for the onset of anesthesia using subjective and objective methods, pain perception during the administration of local anesthesia using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS), and the incidence of trismus postoperatively. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for windows, version 23.0 (released 2015; IBM Corp Armonk, United States) with p-values less than 0.05 considered as statistically significant. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, and post-hoc tests were included in the data analysis for intergroup comparisons. Results The primary outcomes evaluated were the onset of anesthesia, the patient's perception of pain during the administration of local anesthesia, and the secondary outcome included in the incidence of trismus. In this study, it was found that the Kurt-Thoma technique had the fastest onset of anesthesia (2.25 minutes), higher incidence of trismus (25%), and higher pain perception (6.5 score on VAS). The conventional Halstead technique (3.55 minutes), Fischer 1-2-3 technique (3.5 minutes), and Vazirani-Akinosi technique (3.1 minutes) had an almost similar mean duration of anesthesia. The onset of anesthesia was delayed in the Gow-Gates technique (5.1 minutes). Patient perception of pain during administration of local anesthesia was higher in the Kurt-Thoma (6.5) and Gow-Gates techniques (4.95), and it was least in the Fischer 1-2-3 technique (0.75) in the VAS scores. The incidence of trismus was highest with the Kurt-Thoma technique (25%), then the Gow-Gates technique (20%), followed by the conventional Halstead technique (5%).  Conclusion In this study, it was found that the conventional Halsted technique was the best among the different techniques of IANB and remains the gold standard.

Comparative evaluation of efficacy of Halstead technique, Clark and Holmes technique, Gow Gates technique, and Sargenti technique for mandibular anesthesia.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the inferior alveolar nerve block, that is, the Halstead technique, Clark and Holmes technique, Gow Gates technique, and Sargenti technique, for mandibular anesthesia. Methodology: This prospective, double-blinded, in-vivo study was conducted amongst 100 patients, requiring mandibular anesthesia. These patients were divided into four groups. Parameters assessed were time required for appearance of subjective and objective symptoms and signs, positive aspiration, need for supplementary anesthesia, and ease of administration. Results: The means for subjective symptoms for the four techniques, that is, Halstead technique, Clark and Holmes technique, Gow Gates technique, and Sargenti technique, were 78.44, 120.76, 176.6, and 203.08, respectively. The means for objectives symptoms for the four techniques, that is, Halstead technique, Clark and Holmes technique, Gow Gates technique, and Sargenti technique, were 110.6, 269.8, 287.48, and 154.08, respectively. Halstead technique had statistically significant (P < 0.05) faster objective signs than all the other techniques. Supplementary block if required was noted for all four techniques. Conclusion: The Clark and Holmes technique showed maximum complications, while Gow Gates technique was most difficult to administer. The Angelo Sargenti technique gave good results, same as standard Halstead technique.

Comparison of Efficacy of Halstead, Vazirani Akinosi and Gow Gates Techniques for Mandibular Anesthesia.

PURPOSE: Traditionally, the "Halstead block" has been widely used to provide anesthesia in mandibular teeth. Two other techniques, the Gow Gates mandibular nerve block and the Akinosi Vazirani closed-mouth mandibular nerve block, are reliable alternatives to the conventional inferior alveolar nerve block. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the onset of anesthesia, anesthetic success and incidence of positive aspiration during administration of local anesthetic solution using the Halstead, Vazirani Akinosi and Gow Gates techniques. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study involves 210 subjects, divided into three different groups of 70 subjects each receiving Gow Gates, Vazirani Akinosi and conventional inferior alveolar nerve blocks. The onset of anesthesia, positive aspiration and anesthetic success was evaluated. RESULTS: In Vazirani Akinosi technique group, patients showed highest anesthetic success of 95.71%; there was a significant difference seen between the Gow Gates and Vazirani Akinosi techniques (p = 0.0241*). The mean value of the onset of anesthesia in Gow Gates technique showed the longest 343.71 ± 153.20 s, in Halstead technique it was 177.43 ± 59.94 s, and in Vazirani Akinosi technique it was 192.86 ± 61.20 s. There was a significant difference seen between Gow Gates and Vazirani Akinosi techniques (p = 0.0001*) and Gow Gates and inferior alveolar nerve block techniques (p = 0.0001*). CONCLUSION: The Vazirani Akinosi technique was found to be significantly better than the other two techniques with respect to both onset and success of anesthesia. Positive aspirations were slightly higher in the conventional IANB technique compared to the other two, but did not reach statistical significance.

Efficacy of IANB and Gow-Gates Techniques in Mandibular Molars with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Prospective Randomized Double Blind Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) and Gow-Gates techniques in mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this randomised, double-blind clinical trial, 80 patients referred to Mashhad Dental School, were randomly divided into two groups: IANB and Gow-Gates anaesthetic techniques using 2% lidocaine with 1:100000 epinephrine. After injection, if pain during caries/dentin removal and access cavity preparation was reported in each group, the patients once again were randomly allocated to receive buccal or lingual supplementary infiltration. Pain severity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale. The rates of positive aspiration and changes in heart rate were compared between the IANB and Gow-Gates. Paired and individual t-tests and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the reduction in pain severity. The level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The success rates of anaesthesia in the Gow-Gates and IANB techniques were 50% and 42.5%, respectively with no significant difference (P=0.562). Supplementary infiltrations significantly reduced pain severity in all subgroups (P<0.05). Lingual infiltration resulted in a significantly greater reduction in pain severity in the IANB group than in the Gow-Gates group (P<0.05). No significant difference in heart rate or positive aspiration results was observed between groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the efficacy of the IANB and Gow-Gates techniques was comparable in mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Supplementary buccal and lingual infiltration significantly reduced pain severity.

A Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Efficacy of Classical and Gow-Gates Technique for Providing Anesthesia During Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molar: A Split Mouth Design.

INTRODUCTION: Reliable profound mandibular block anesthesia is questionable when depositing the anesthetic solution at the lingula. The Gow-Gates technique is an useful alternative to the classical inferior alveolar nerve block and the incidence of unsuccessful anesthesia may be as high as classical technique. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy, degree of patient acceptability, advantages, disadvantages and limitations of the classical and Gow-Gates techniques for providing anesthesia in patients undergoing bilateral symmetrical surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar under local anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The split mouth design study was conducted on 100 patients aged between 20 to 40 years undergoing surgical removal of bilateral symmetrical impacted mandibular third molar performed by the same maxillofacial surgeon. 2 ml of 2 % lignocaine hydrochloride with 1:80,000 adrenaline was used as a standard local anesthetic solution in all the cases. By using four-digit numbers from a random number table, either Gow-Gates or classical inferior alveolar nerve block were randomly assigned to either left or right sides in each patient. The injections were administered by another surgeon who was blinded to the experiment. The patient was assessed for Pain experienced during injection, frequency of positive aspirations, Onset and duration of anesthesia and Nerves anesthetized. RESULTS: Results were statistically analyzed by Mann-Whitney and chi square test. A 'P' value of less than 0.05 was considered for statistical significance. Higher mean pain during injection was recorded in classical group, was found to be statistically significant. No significant association was observed between aspiration and the groups. Higher mean onset of anesthesia was recorded in Gow-gates group, was found to be statistically significant. Higher mean duration of anesthesia was recorded in Gow-gates group, was not statistically significant. Higher success rate was recorded in Gow-gates group and was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: If we ignore delayed onset of anesthesia of Gow gates technique, it is found to be more reliable, beneficial and have higher success rate than classical inferior alveolar nerve block technique.

Comparative evaluation of effect of preoperative alprazolam and diclofenac potassium on the success of inferior alveolar, Vazirani-Akinosi, and Gow-Gates techniques for teeth with irreversible pulpitis: Randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: In teeth with irreversible pulpitis, successful local anesthesia is hard to achieve irrespective of the amount of local anesthesia and technique used. Such cases can be managed by concoction of pre-medications like anxiolytics, analgesics and effective local anesthesia. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study was planned to evaluate the effect of oral administration of alprazolam and diclofenac potassium on the success rate of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB), Gow-Gates (GG) and Vazirani-Akinosi (VA) techniques for the root canal treatment of mandibular molars with irreversible pulpitis. METHOD: 198 emergency patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were randomly divided into three groups as - A, B and C receiving IANB, GG or V-A respectively using 2% lidocaine with 1: 100,000 epinephrine. These groups were sub-divided into sub-groups I and II as control and pre-medication groups. Patients who did not react to the stimulus made by an explorer between the canine and first premolar and showing subjective lip and tongue numbness were included in the study. RESULT: All sub-groups showed statistically significant reduction in VAS score. However sub-groups V and VI (that is GG with and without pre-medication respectively) showed best improvement in initial severe pain in mandibular molars with irreversible pulpitis. Moreover, all pre-medication sub-groups showed better pain control compared to respective control groups. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that use of pre-medications in the form of combination of anxiolytics and analgesics improves the success rate of local anesthesia in teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Use of anxiolytics eases the patient in endodontic emergencies. Also use of GG along with pre-medication is the best method for effective pain management of acute pain in irreversible pulpitis.

Evaluation of the Gow-Gates and Vazirani-Akinosi techniques in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: a prospective randomized study.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the Gow-Gates and Vazirani-Akinosi techniques in patients presenting with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of the Gow-Gates and Vazirani-Akinosi techniques using 3.6 mL 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine in mandibular posterior teeth in patients presenting with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five emergency patients diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis randomly received either a Gow-Gates or Vazirani-Akinosi injection using 3.6 mL 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine to block the inferior alveolar nerve before endodontic access. Subjective lip numbness was recorded. Pulpal anesthetic success of the injection was defined as no pain or mild pain upon endodontic access and instrumentation as measured on a visual analog scale. RESULTS: Subjective lip numbness was obtained 92% of the time with the Gow-Gates technique and 63% of the time with the Vazirani-Akinosi technique. The difference was statistically significant (P = .0001). For the patients achieving lip numbness, successful pulpal anesthesia was obtained 35% of the time with the Gow-Gates technique and 16% of the time with the Vazirani-Akinosi technique. The difference was statistically significant (P = .0381). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that for patients who achieved lip numbness neither the Gow-Gates technique nor the Vazirani-Akinosi technique provided adequate pulpal anesthesia for mandibular posterior teeth in patients presenting with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Both injections would require supplemental anesthesia.