ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare 0.5% centbucridine and 2% lignocaine (with adrenaline) as local anesthetic agents for dental treatment procedures in 12 to 14 y old children. METHODS: A split mouth, triple blind randomised controlled trial design was adopted for this study. Fifty six children between 12 to 14 y of age requiring bilateral administration of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) were recruited for this study. The mandibular quadrants were randomly allotted to the drug being administered. Standardised protocol for local anesthesia administration was used. The primary outcomes assessed were onset, duration and depth of anesthesia using the pre-validated Visual Analog scale and effect on perioperative pulse rate using a pulse oximeter. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between centbucridine and lignocaine with respect to their mean onset [(105.181 and 99.727 s respectively), (p = 0.647)], duration of action [(91.931 and 91.613 min respectively), (p = 0.931)] and depth of anesthesia at 10, 30 and 60 min. Centbucridine showed a statistically significant drop in the pulse rate at 10 (p < 0.001) and 30 min (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between 0.5% centbucridine and 2% lignocaine with respect to onset, duration and depth of anesthesia.