Background: It is important to control the pain associated with root canal treatment (RCT) in endodontic. Pain accompanying fear and anxiety due
to endodontic treatment can be reduced by anesthetic techniques. The present study aims to compare the effect of articaine versus lidocaine local
anesthesia for inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) and long buccal nerve block on pain during RCT.
METHODS: Twenty patients diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis of mandibular posterior tooth were selected. The patients
randomly received either cartridge of lidocaine or articaine using IANB and long buccal nerve block. The patients were randomly divided into two
groups of ten. Group 1: patients received IANB and long buccal nerve block 2% lidocaine with 1:100000 epinephrine. Group 2: patients received
IANB and long buccal nerve block with 4% articaine with 1:100000 epinephrine. Before the Injection, the patient received all information about
the visual analysis scale (VAS). Pain was evaluated using VAS scale in numberic value 1 to 10 number. The pain was evaluated at three different
stages: before administration of LA, after immediate access opening, and after immediate obturation procedure. Data were analyzed using various
suitable statistical tests.
RESULT: The mean value of efcacy of pain before administration of local anesthesia (LA) was 8.50 ± 0.97 for lidocaine and 8.30 ± 0.48 for
articaine had no signicant difference. A signicant difference was observed at two different duration after immediate access opening and after
immediate obturation where articaine has a lower mean value 3.60 ± 1.08 and 1.60 ± 0.17 respectively (P>0.05) as compared to the mean value of
lidocaine 4.10 ± 1.10 and 1.60 ± 0.17 respectively
Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, in cases of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis articaine 4% did not alleviate pain much and showed
better anesthetic efcacy than 2% lidocaine with IANB and long buccal nerve block.
The Effect of Using Articaine Versus Lidocaine for Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block on Pain After Root Canal Treatment: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Study