Articaine and mepivacaine efficacy in postoperative analgesia for lower third molar removal: a double-blind, randomized, crossover study.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of the clinical efficacy of 4% articaine in relation to 2% mepivacaine, both with 1:100,000 epinephrine, in the prevention of postoperative pain after lower third molar removal.


METHODS
Twenty patients underwent removal of bilateral lower third molars under local anesthesia (articaine or mepivacaine) in 2 separate appointments, in a double-blind, randomized, and crossed manner. Objective and subjective parameters were recorded for paired comparison of postoperative courses.


RESULTS
Duration of analgesia provided by articaine and mepivacaine was 198.00 +/- 25.86, and 125.40 +/- 13.96 min, respectively (P = .02), whereas the duration of anesthesia was 273.80 +/- 15.94 and 216.85 +/- 20.15 min, respectively (P = .06). Both solutions exerted no important effects upon arterial pressure, heart rate, or oxygen saturation (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Articaine provides a longer period of analgesic effect and a tendency for a longer period of anesthesia as compared to mepivacaine. The presence of a vasoconstrictor agent in local anesthetic solutions does not seem to influence hemodynamic parameters during lower third molar removal in healthy subjects.
Colombini
Bella L
BL
Bauru School of Dentistry, São Paulo, Brazil.
Modena
Karin C S
KC
Calvo
Adriana M
AM
Sakai
Vivien T
VT
Giglio
Fernando P M
FP
Dionísio
Thiago J
TJ
Trindade
Alceu S
AS
Lauris
José R P
JR
Santos
Carlos F
CF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002355:Carticaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010894:Piroxicam; D008619:Mepivacaine; D002355:Carticaine