Design and development of a device for facilitation of Gow-Gates mandibular block and evaluation of its efficacy

Abstract

The Gow-Gates technique is a useful alternative to the inferior alveolar nerve block whenever the latter fails to provide adequate anesthesia. The main disadvantage of this technique is that the incidence of unsuccessful anesthesia may be as high as that for the inferior alveolar nerve block until the administrator gains clinical experience with it. The aim of this study was to develop a device that facilitates the Gow-Gates technique and to increase its success rate even for administrators who are unfamiliar with this procedure. Ninety patients participated in our study. Forty-five patients received Gow-Gates mandibular block with device, and 45 patients received it without instrument (control group). Ninety 5th-year dental students who had no previous clinical experience with the Gow-Gates technique injected the patients. The success rate of anesthesia of inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve, buccal nerve, and auriculotemporal nerve were 93.3%, 93.3%, 91.1%, and 91.1%, respectively, in the study group and 68.9%, 68.2%, 68.9%, and 68.2%, respectively, in the control group. We concluded that our device facilitates the Gow-Gates technique and increases its success rate irrespective of the gender of the patient, the side of the mandible being injected, and the experience of the administrator who uses the instrument.