Comparative Assessment of Pain during Infiltration by a Two-stage Infiltration Technique: A Double-blind Clinical Trial.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the pain during infiltration by a modified two-stage local anesthetic infiltration technique under topical anesthesia (TA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-over double-blind study, 30 volunteers participated, where two groups were given single-stage infiltration and the other two had two-stage infiltrations. Depending upon the infiltration technique (one- or two-stage) and the use of TA, the patients were randomly divided into four groups. Local anesthesia (LA) was administered by infiltration into the mucobuccal fold of the maxillary central incisor, and the pain perceived during the infiltration in each group was recorded. The volunteers were recalled after 24 hours to assess the tenderness at the injection site. The volunteers were recalled 2 weeks after infiltration for the subsequent groups to assess the pain for this cross-over study. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in the pain perceived when TA was used and when the infiltration was done in two stages. Regarding the pain at the site of injection after 24 hours, no significant difference was observed among the volunteers. CONCLUSION: Topical anesthesia was effective in reducing the pain of injection when compared to placebo. The pain of injection is further reduced with a two-stage infiltration technique after TA application. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Topical anesthesia can be used routinely before infiltration, and LA infiltration injections are less painful if administered in two stages.

Clinical and histological responses of human dental pulp to MTA and combined MTA/treated dentin matrix in partial pulpotomy.

The aim of this study was to compare the responses of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and combined MTA/treated dentin matrix (TDM) as direct pulp capping material. In this clinical trial study, 33 intact third molars in 11 healthy volunteers (three molars in each) were included. Partial pulpotomies were performed in a split mouth manner in two of the third molars in each patient randomly and the third tooth had used as TDM source. The coronal dentin was chopped to dentine chips and transformed to TDM using different concentrations of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. Pulps were directly capped by MTA alone or using a combination layering of MTA/TDM. Following 6-week clinical and radiological evaluations, each tooth was extracted and prepared for histological evaluation. There were no significant differences in the clinical and radiographic responses or in the quality of dentin bridges (P > 0.05). However, the dentin bridge was significantly thicker in MTA/TDM group than MTA group (P = 0.003). Using the combination of MTA/TDM as a pulp-dressing agent may form a thicker dentin bridge compared to MTA alone.

The Effect of Maxillary First Molar Root Length on the Success Rate of Buccal Infiltration Anesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: Several variables may influence anesthesia success in maxillary molars. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of root length on the success rate of infiltration injections of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine. METHODS: One hundred maxillary first molars with irreversible pulpitis were treated. After the administration of a buccal infiltration injection of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine, the patients' pain during dentin cutting, pulp exposure, and root canal instrumentation were evaluated using the Heft-Parker visual analog scale. No or mild pain was considered as success. Data were analyzed by the point-biserial correlation test and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 61% of the teeth had successful anesthesia after the administration of a single buccal infiltration injection of anesthetic solution. The point-biserial correlation test showed that the teeth that had palatal and distobuccal roots with longer root lengths showed significantly higher anesthesia failure (P < .05). However, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis did not show a clinically useful cutoff point of root length corresponding with anesthesia failure. CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary first molars having irreversible pulpitis with longer roots may have more anesthesia failures after a single buccal infiltration injection with 2% lidocaine and 1:80000 epinephrine.

Efficacy of Ketorolac Buccal Infiltrations and Inferior Alveolar Nerve Blocks in Patients with Irreversible Pulpitis: A Prospective, Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine whether ketorolac buccal infiltrations (BIs) helped to improve the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) in patients with acute irreversible pulpitis (AIP). METHODS: Forty adult volunteers with AIP in a mandibular molar were included in this study. Patients were instructed to evaluate their pain by using a Heft-Parker visual analog scale. They were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 20). All patients received standard IANB injection and after that a BI of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. After 5 minutes, 20 patients received a BI of 30 mg/mL ketorolac, and the other received a BI of normal saline (control group). Endodontic access cavity preparation (ACP) was initiated 15 minutes after the IANB when the patient reported lip numbness and had 2 electric pulp tests with no responses. The patient's pain during caries and dentin removal, ACP, and canal length measurements (CLM) was recorded by using Heft-Parker visual analog scale. Successful anesthesia was defined as no or mild pain during any of these steps, without the need for additional injection. Data were statistically analyzed by using Mann-Whitney U and χ(2) tests. RESULTS: Successful anesthesia after an IANB plus BI of articaine was obtained in 15% of patients in the control group at the end of CLM. Adding BI of ketorolac significantly increased the success rate to 40% (P < .05). Patient's pain during ACP and CLM was significantly lower in the ketorolac group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Ketorolac BI can increase the success rate of anesthesia after IANB and BI with articaine in patients with AIP.

Effect of topical anesthesia on pain during infiltration injection and success of anesthesia for maxillary central incisors.

INTRODUCTION: This study was performed to investigate the effect of topical anesthesia on pain during needle penetration and infiltration injection as well as the effect of pain during injection on success rate of anesthesia in maxillary central incisors. METHODS: In a crossover double-blind study, 25 volunteers randomly received either topical anesthesia or placebo before infiltration injection with prilocaine for their maxillary central incisors in 2 separate appointments. The pain after needle penetration and during injection was separately recorded. An electric pulp tester was used to evaluate the success of the anesthetic injection. Data were analyzed by McNemar, Wilcoxon, and χ(2) tests. RESULTS: Overall for 50 injections, 72% of the teeth had successful anesthesia. No significant difference was found between placebo and topical anesthetic groups for the pain of needle penetration as well as pain during injection (P > .05). The volunteers who reported moderate-to-severe pain during injection showed no significant difference in the success rate of anesthesia compared with those with no or mild pain during injections (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Use of topical anesthesia had no significant effect on pain during either needle penetration or injection. Pain during injection had no significant effect on the success of anesthesia.

Efficacy of combining a buccal infiltration with an inferior alveolar nerve block for mandibular molars with irreversible pulpitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block combined with buccal infiltration for mandibular molars with irreversible pulpitis. METHODOLOGY: Eighty-four patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 28 patients each. Lidocaine 2% with 1:80,000 epinephrine was used for all injections. Group I patients received an IAN block with 1.8 mL of anesthetic. Group II patients received an IAN block using 3.6 mL. Group III patients received 1.8 mL as an IAN block and 1.8 mL as a buccal infiltration. A visual analogue scale was used to rate pain before anesthesia and discomfort experienced before and during access cavity preparation. Data were analyzed by chi-square, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: The success rates for groups I to III were 14.8%, 39.3%, and 65.4%, respectively. Group III had significantly better anesthesia compared with group I (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Combining an IAN block and a buccal infiltration injection provided more effective anesthesia in mandibular molars with irreversible pulpitis. However, some cases may still require further anesthesia to prevent pain during endodontic treatment.

Bacterial and dye penetration through interim restorations used during endodontic treatment of molar teeth.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between dye and bacterial penetration through interim restorations used during endodontic treatment. METHODS: Sixty-four extracted human teeth were used, with 2 teeth each as positive and negative controls. Endodontic access with a mesio-occluso-distal cavity was prepared. Palatal cusps of maxillary molars and buccal cusps of mandibular molars were removed. Cotton was placed over the canals and covered with Cavit. Thirty teeth were restored with Ketac Silver (KS) and 30 with KS reinforced with a stainless steel band (KSSB). Samples were submersed in India ink mixed with brain heart infusion broth containing Streptococcus gordonii. After 3 months of simulated chewing, structural integrity and dye and bacterial penetration were assessed. RESULTS: Positive controls had both dye and bacterial penetration. Negative controls had no dye or bacterial penetration. All KS restorations debonded, whereas 18 KSSB restorations (60%) debonded. KS restorations were 1.67 times more likely to debond than KSSB restorations (Fisher exact test). KS was 1.3 times more likely to have dye penetration than KSSB (Fisher exact test) and 3 times more likely to have bacterial penetration, although not statistically significant (chi(2) test). Overall, 88.3% of specimens had dye penetration, and 20% had bacterial penetration. This 68.3% difference indicated no association between dye and bacterial penetration (exact McNemar test). CONCLUSIONS: Stainless steel bands helped maintain structural integrity of KS restorations under masticatory function. Bands helped prevent dye penetration but not bacterial penetration. There was no association between dye and bacterial penetration.

Experimental model: dye penetration of extensive interim restorations used during endodontic treatment while under load in a multiple axis chewing simulator.

The purpose of this study was to design an experimental model that allowed extensive endodontic interim restorations to be tested for dye penetration while under simulated masticatory load. Extracted premolar teeth had standardized mesio-occluso-distal cavities prepared, and the root canals were instrumented. A cotton wool pellet was placed in the pulp chamber, and the cavities were restored with Cavit, IRM, Ketac-Fil Plus, Ketac-Silver, or composite resin (Z100). They were subjected to the equivalent of 3 months of clinical load while exposed to methylene blue dye. Results of this study could not support IRM as a suitable interim endodontic restorative material to use in extensive cavities. The dye penetration in the Ketac-Fil Plus and Ketac-Silver specimens was not predictable, and the results suggested Cavit and Z100 composite resin require further investigations as potentially useful materials for this purpose.