A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 and 1:50,000 epinephrine and 3% mepivacaine for maxillary infiltrations.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind crossover study was to evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 and 1:50,000 epinephrine and 3% mepivacaine in maxillary lateral incisors and first molars.

METHODS

Sixty subjects randomly received, in a double-blind manner, maxillary lateral incisor and first molar infiltrations of 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, 2% lidocaine with 1:50,000 epinephrine, and 3% mepivacaine at three separate appointments spaced at least 1 week apart. The teeth were pulp tested in 3-minute cycles for a total of 60 minutes.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Anesthetic success and the onset of pulpal anesthesia were not significantly different between 2% lidocaine with either 1:100,000 or 1:50,000 epinephrine and 3% mepivacaine for the lateral incisor and first molar. Increasing the epinephrine concentration from 1:100,000 to 1:50,000 in a 2% lidocaine formulation significantly decreased pulpal anesthesia of short duration for the lateral incisor but not the first molar. For both the lateral incisor and first molar, 3% mepivacaine significantly increased pulpal anesthesia of short duration compared with 2% lidocaine with either 1:100,000 or 1:50,000 epinephrine.