DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2023.v10i04.001

Pages: 54-59

Objectives: The present study examined the efficacy and acceptability of buffered lidocaine (7.5% sodium bicarbonate and 2% lignocaine with 1:80,000 adrenaline) injection for pain management in dental extractions. Materials and Methods: A hundred patients aged between 20-60 years, according to the recommendations of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), who required teeth extraction either in maxillary or mandibular arch were considered. Routine exodontia was performed immediately after mixed sodium bicarbonate buffered lidocaine was administered. Simultaneously, the onset time of anesthesia was recorded using a stop clock, whereas pain perceived by the patient during injection and extraction was scored using a visual analog scale. The duration of anesthesia was assessed by the feeling of numbness and the first sign of pain. Results: One hundred patients were administered buffered lidocaine (pH 7.2). They had demonstrated a rapid onset (average of 41.20 sec) of anesthesia, a prolonged duration of anesthesia for soft tissues (average of 3.5 hrs), and low discomfort during injection (62%) and extraction (60%). Conclusion: Buffering lidocaine with sodium bicarbonate reduces the discomfort during the injection and hastens the onset of anesthesia for infiltrations and maxillary blocks when compared to mandibular block with an immersive action that prolongs the duration of soft tissue anesthesia up to 4-5 hrs. It is a simple, economical procedure that a dentist can efficiently perform before local anesthetic administration, making oral surgical operations more comfortable for patients.