ABSTRACT
Objective: to evaluate the pulpal anaesthesia of mandibular 1st molar by using 4% articaine in two different techniques i-e buccal infiltration and inferior alveolar nerve block
Methodology: ninty emergency patients who had 1st molar diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis participated in the study. Subjects were randomly allo-cated into two groups One group received 4% articaine buccal infiltration and the other group received inferior alveolar nerve block of 4% articaine. Subjects' self reported pain response was recorded on Heft Parker Visual Analogue Scale after local anesthetic administration during access cavity preparation and pulp extirpation
Results: mean age of subjects was 32.96 years +/- 10.105 years. The success rate of 4% articaine buccal infiltration was 71.11% whereas the success rate of 4% articaine inferior alveolar nerve block was 64.4%. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups
Conclusion: since there was no difference between the two procedures 4% articaine buccal infiltration can be considered a viable alternative to inferior alveolar nerve block in securing successful pulpal anesthesia for endodontic therapy