Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
10:57
Intramuscular Injections Along the Motor End Plates: A Minimally Invasive Approach to Shuttle Tracers Directly into Motor Neurons
Published on: July 13, 2015
Articaine and lignocaine.
1School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Evidence-Based Dentistry
|March 26, 2011
Summary
Articaine provides superior anesthetic success compared to lignocaine for routine dental procedures, particularly in the first molar region. Both anesthetics show similar adverse event profiles, with minimal clinical impact from temporary post-injection pain differences.
Area of Science:
- Dental Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
- Evidence-Based Dentistry
Background:
- Routine dental treatments often require local anesthesia for pain management.
- Articaine and lignocaine are commonly used local anesthetics in dentistry.
- Comparing the efficacy and safety of these agents is crucial for clinical decision-making.
Discussion:
- This meta-analysis synthesized data from randomized controlled trials to compare 4% articaine with 2% lignocaine.
- The primary outcomes assessed were anesthetic success, onset, adverse events, and pain.
- A random-effects model was employed for data synthesis.
Key Insights:
- Articaine demonstrated a higher likelihood of achieving anesthetic success in the posterior first molar region (RR 1.31, P=0.0009).
- No significant difference was observed in post-injection adverse events between articaine and lignocaine (RR 1.05, P=0.85).
- Articaine was associated with higher initial injection site pain scores, which diminished over time.
Outlook:
- Articaine is recommended as a superior anesthetic to lignocaine for routine dental procedures due to higher efficacy.
- The safety profiles are comparable, with minor, transient pain differences.
- Further research is needed to evaluate articaine's use in pediatric populations under four years old.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications
Local anesthetics (LAs) are commonly used for various applications in medical and dental procedures. Some of the common agents used are cocaine, lidocaine, and bupivacaine.
Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and methylecgogine. It is used to anesthetize and vasoconstrict locally. Currently, it is used primarily for topical applications. It is beneficial for surgeries on the upper respiratory tract, providing anesthesia and shrinking the mucosa. Cocaine in the form of cocaine hydrochloride is...
Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and methylecgogine. It is used to anesthetize and vasoconstrict locally. Currently, it is used primarily for topical applications. It is beneficial for surgeries on the upper respiratory tract, providing anesthesia and shrinking the mucosa. Cocaine in the form of cocaine hydrochloride is...
01:30Local Anesthetics: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Local anesthetics (LAs) are drugs that induce a temporary loss of sensation in a limited body area, preventing pain. Cocaine was the first local anesthetic discovered in the late 19th century. Cocaine is a benzoic acid ester obtained from the leaves of coca shrubs and was often used for its psychotropic effects. Cocaine was first isolated in 1860 by Albert Niemann. Sigmund Freud studied the physiological actions of cocaine. Carl Koller later introduced it into clinical practice in 1884 as a...
01:30Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia
Depending on the target organ, local anesthetics (LAs) can be administered via various routes. In surface anesthesia, LAs are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. It is widely used for topical skin numbing before venipuncture or minor surgical procedures. Commonly used surface local anesthetics are lidocaine or benzocaine sprays or creams. Surface anesthesia occurs within 5 minutes and lasts for about 60 minutes. One of the main disadvantages of topical anesthesia is...
01:11Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia
Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
01:23Local Anesthetics: Mechanism of Action
Local anesthetics (LAs) block sensory and motor impulses by inhibiting the sodium channels on the nerve cell membranes. This induces temporary loss of sensation, relieving pain in a specific body area.
Local anesthetics are amphiphilic molecules consisting of a hydrophobic aromatic part linked to a hydrophilic group by an ester or amide linkage. They are weak bases and are usually available as salts, which increases their solubility and stability. Once administered, LAs exist in the body either...
Local anesthetics are amphiphilic molecules consisting of a hydrophobic aromatic part linked to a hydrophilic group by an ester or amide linkage. They are weak bases and are usually available as salts, which increases their solubility and stability. Once administered, LAs exist in the body either...
01:24Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...