Comparison of the efficacy of two anesthetic techniques of mandibular primary first molar: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background: The most common technique to anesthetize mandibular primary teeth is inferior

alveolar (I.A) nerve block injection which induces a relatively sustained anesthesia and in turn

may potentially traumatize soft-tissues. Therefore, the need of having an alternative technique of

anesthesia with a shorter term but the same efficacy is reasonable. The aim of this study was a

comparison of the efficacy of two anesthetic techniques of mandibular primary first molar.

Materials and Methods: In this randomized crossover clinical trial, 40 children with ages ranged

from 5 years to 8 years whose mandibular primary first molars were eligible for pulpotomy, were

selected and divided randomly into two groups. The right and left mandibular first molars of group

A were anesthetized with infiltration and I. A nerve block techniques in the first and second sessions

respectively. The left and right mandibular first molars of group B were anesthetized with I.A nerve

block and infiltration techniques in the first and second sessions respectively. The severity of pain

were measured and recorded according to sound-eye-motor scale by a certain person. Data was

analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Mann-Whitney U tests (P < 0.05).

Results: The severity of pain was lower in infiltration technique versus I.A nerve block. There were

no significant differences between the severities of pain on pulpal exposure of two techniques.

Conclusion: It seems that infiltration technique is more favorable to anesthetize the mandibular

primary first molar compared to I.A nerve block.

Key Words: Anesthetics, local/administration, nerve block/methods, pain measurement,

pulpotomy/methods