A Prospective, Randomized Single-blind Study of the Anesthetic Efficacy of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Administered with a Peripheral Nerve Stimulator
Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of this prospective, randomized single-blind study was to compare the degree of pulpal anesthesia obtained with the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block administered by using a peripheral nerve stimulator compared with a conventional IAN block by using a cartridge of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine.
Methods
Forty-six adult volunteers randomly received a conventional IAN block or an IAN block administered with a peripheral nerve stimulator at 2 separate appointments. An electric pulp tester was used to test for anesthesia of the first molar, first premolar, and lateral incisor in 4-minute cycles for 60minutes. Anesthesia was considered successful when 2 consecutive 80 readings were obtained within 15minutes, and the 80 reading was continuously sustained through the 60th minute.
Results
With the peripheral nerve stimulator for the IAN block, successful pulpal anesthesia ranged from 32%–37%. For the conventional IAN block, successful pulpal anesthesia ranged from 32%–45%. There was no significant difference between the 2 IAN block techniques.
Conclusions
We concluded that the IAN block administered with a peripheral nerve stimulator did not increase the success rate of pulpal anesthesia when compared with a conventional IAN block.
∗Private practice limited to endodontics, Chevy Chase, Maryland
†Division of Endodontics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
‡Division of Oral Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Address requests for reprints to Dr Al Reader, Division of Endodontics, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, 305 West 12th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210.
ABSTRACT