Comparative evaluation of effectiveness of intraligamentary injection technique using articaine and lidocaine for extraction of primary mandibular posterior teeth

Abstract

Introduction: Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) has been the traditional technique for achieving anesthesia of mandibular teeth. However, its failure rate and associated complications have resulted in need and quest for alternative local anesthetic techniques, of which intraligamentary injection technique is one. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of articaine hydrochloride 4% with adrenaline 1:100,000 and lidocaine hydrochloride 2% with adrenaline 1:80000 for extraction of mandibular primary teeth using intraligamentary injection technique. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted over a sample of 60 patients, aged between 6 and 10 years requiring extraction of primary mandibular posterior teeth. Patients were selected and divided randomly into two groups as follows: Group A received anesthesia through intraligamentary injection containing articaine hydrochloride 4% with adrenaline 1:100,000 and Group B containing lidocaine hydrochloride 2% with adrenaline 1:80,000. Sound eye motor scale was used to assess pain perception for each group. On failure of completion of extraction, IANB technique was employed. Results: The success rate of intraligamentary injection within articaine group was 80%, and lidocaine group was 30% with the mean SEM scores (± standard deviation) on administration of lidocaine group were higher than articaine group. Conclusion: Intraligamentary technique with articaine may be an alternate to IANB for extraction of primary mandibular molars.