title: Effect of preoperative alprazolam on the success of inferior alveolar nerve block for teeth with irreversible pulpitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Success of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block decreases in patients with irreversible pulpitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative administration of alprazolam on the success of the IAN block for teeth with irreversible pulpitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular molar were selected for this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The patients received identical capsules of either 0.5 mg of alprazolam or placebo 45 minutes before the administration of a conventional IAN block. Access cavity preparation was initiated 15 minutes after the IAN block injection. Lip numbness was recorded for all the patients. Success was defined as no or mild pain on the basis of visual analogue scale recordings during access cavity preparation and initial instrumentation. Data were analyzed by t test, Mann-Whitney, and χ(2) tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success rate was 53% for alprazolam group and 40% for placebo group, with no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .301).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the scope of the current study, preoperative oral administration of 0.5 mg of alprazolam did not improve the success of the IAN block in mandibular molars in patients with irreversible pulpitis, and the success rate was not adequate to ensure profound pulpal anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Torabinejad Dental Research Center, Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khademi
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saatchi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minaiyan
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rostamizadeh
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sharafi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D000525:Alprazolam