COMPARISON OF EFFECTIVENESS OF 4% ARTICAINE BUCCAL INFILTRATION VERSUS INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE BLOCK IN SYMPTOMATIC MANDIBULAR 1ST MOLAR TOOTH

Objective: To evaluate the pulpal anaesthesia of mandibular 1st molar by us -ing 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 An-alogue Scale after local anesthetic administration during access cavity prepa-ration 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.