Prospective clinical study comparing intraligamentary anesthesia and inferior alveolar nerve block for extraction of posterior mandibular teeth.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of intraligamentary anesthesia (ILA) with conventional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) for extraction of mandibular posterior teeth. In a prospective clinical trial, a total of 301 mandibular posterior teeth were extracted in 266 patients. Randomization was conducted into those who received ILA (patients n=98; teeth n=105) and those who received IANB (patient n=140; teeth n=140). Twenty-eight patients were subjected to bilateral mandibular dental extractions and received both ILA und IANB (teeth n=56 (ILA n=28; IANB n=28)). The primary objective was to evaluate the differences in pain during injection, in pain during tooth extraction (numeric rating scale (NRS)), and in anesthetic quality (complete/sufficient vs. insufficient/no effect). Differences in latency time, amount of anesthetic solution, need for second injection, and duration of local numbness as well as in the incidence of dry socket were assessed. ILA had significant lower pain of injection (p<0.001), shorter latency time (p<0.001), and shorter duration of local numbness (p<0.001) and required lesser amount of local anesthetic solution (p<0.001) together with a similar anesthetic quality (p=0.082) compared to IANB. Concerning pain during extraction (p=0.211), frequency of second injection (p=0.197), and incidence of dry socket (p=0.178), no significant differences were detected. ILA fulfills the requirements of a minimal invasive and patient-friendly local anesthetic technique. In accordance, it represents a safe and reliable alternative to IANB for extraction of mandibular posterior teeth. ILA can be recommended for routine dental extractions.