Comparison of the anesthetic efficacy of articaine and mepivacaine in pediatric patients: a randomized, double-blind study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the reaction to pain during local injection and duration of numbness of soft tissue with 4% articaine or 3% mepivacaine in children.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, split-mouth study was used with a sample of 50 7- to 13-year-old children (25 boys and 25 girls; mean age=11.3 years old) that had similar operative procedure needs in symmetric primary teeth. The modified behavioral pain scale was used for objective evaluation of the children. The sensation after injection and treatment was evaluated using the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale. Parents were instructed to ask the child and to record the time when feeling of numbness disappeared.

Results: The duration of soft tissue was longer for articaine (140.69 ± 49.76 minutes) than for mepivacaine (117.52 ± 42.99 minutes). No difference regarding efficacy of the anesthesia was observed. No statistically significant difference was found in blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen saturation in all evaluation periods for both solutions. The feeling after treatment was similar for the 2 solutions.

Conclusion: Four percent articaine with 1:200,000 and 3% mepivacaine presented the same efficacy, and children displayed the same behavior during injection.