A prospective, randomized single-blind study of the anesthetic efficacy of the inferior alveolar nerve block administered with a peripheral nerve stimulator.

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 60 minutes. Anesthesia was considered successful when 2 consecutive 80 readings were obtained within 15 minutes, 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.