Efficacy of Inferior Mandibular Nerve Block (IANB) with Articaine Infiltration Versus Lidocaine Infiltration Administered inTeeth with Irreversible Pulpitis

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of (Inferior mandibular nerve block) IANB with Lidocaine infiltration versus with articaine infiltration in patients with irreversible pulpitis. METHODOLOGY An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics at Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Karachi. The study was initiated in January-April 2022. A total of 150 patients’ positive history of irreversible pulpitis, confirmed with cold pulp testing, were randomly allocated into two groups: 75 cases were treated with standard Inferior mandibular nerve block with Lidocaine buccal infiltration, and 75 were treated with buccal infiltration of 1.8 ml of 4% articaine. Before administering the anaesthetic injection, each subject was shown the visual analogue scale (VAS). After 15 minutes of administration, subjects were asked to rate the pain. The data was recorded on a designed proforma. RESULTSThe average age of the patients was 35.52±10.09 years. Efficacy of the inferior alveolar nerve block with buccal infiltration of 1.8 ml of 4% articaine was significantly high as compared to Inferior mandibular nerve block with Lidocaine buccal infiltration [73.3% vs 50.67% p=0.004]. CONCLUSION Buccal infiltration of 4% Articaine for mandibular teeth during IANB can have a high success rate and is considered a good alternative.