A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of 2% mepivacaine with 1 : 20,000 levonordefrin versus 2% lidocaine with 1 : 100,000 epinephrine for maxillary infiltrations

Abstract

The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind crossover study was to compare the anesthetic efficacy of 2% mepivacaine with 1 : 20,000 levonordefrin versus 2% lidocaine with 1 : 100,000 epinephrine in maxillary central incisors and first molars. Sixty subjects randomly received, in a double-blind manner, maxillary central incisor and first molar infiltrations of 1.8 mL of 2% mepivacaine with 1 : 20,000 levonordefrin and 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1 : 100,000 epinephrine at 2 separate appointments spaced at least 1 week apart. The teeth were electric pulp tested in 2-minute cycles for a total of 60 minutes. Anesthetic success (obtaining 2 consecutive 80 readings with the electric pulp tester within 10 minutes) was not significantly different between 2% mepivacaine with 1 : 20,000 levonordefrin and 2% lidocaine with 1 : 100,000 epinephrine for the central incisor and first molar. However, neither anesthetic agent provided an hour of pulpal anesthesia.

Figures

Figure 1

Incidence of maxillary central incisor pulpal anesthesia as determined by lack of response to electrical pulp testing at the maximum setting (percentage of 80 readings), at each postinjection time interval, for the 2 anesthetic formulations. There were no significant differences (P < .05) between the solutions.

Figure 2

Incidence of maxillary first molar pulpal anesthesia as determined by lack of response to electrical pulp testing at the maximum setting (percentage of 80 readings), at each postinjection time interval, for the 2 anesthetic formulations. There were no significant differences (P < .05) between the solutions.