Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography
Published on: November 29, 2017
Articaine use in children: a review
R Leith1, K Lynch, A C O'Connell
1Dept of Public and Child Dental Health, Trinity College Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. rona.leith@dental.tcd.ie
Background:
Lidocaine has been considered the gold standard for local analgesia agents in dentistry for years. Articaine is now widely used but there has been a reluctance to use it in children.
Review:
Compared with lidocaine, articaine is 1.5 times as potent and only 0.6 times as toxic and has been shown to be superior in achieving successful anaesthesia following infiltration. The use of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) can be almost eliminated in children by using articaine due to its ability to effectively anaesthetic teeth up to the first permanent molar region. In addition, diffusion of the anaesthetic agent onto the palatal surface may also eliminate the discomfort of palatal infiltration. Soft tissue analgesia may be prolonged, but the risk of other adverse reactions is similar to other local anaesthetic agents.
Conclusion:
The use of articaine achieves successful pain control while reducing the volume administered and is advocated as a safe and effective alternative to lidocaine for use in children.
Related Concept Videos
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications
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...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses

