Efficacy Study of Articaine Versus Lidocaine as Supplemental Infiltration in Inflamed Molars

The purpose of this trial is to study the ability of a frequently used dental anesthetic (articaine) to achieve complete numbness of a diseased tooth with the most commonly used injection technique in the lower jaw (inferior alveolar nerve block: IANB). If this technique fails, a commonly used supplemental (SUP) technique with one of two possible dental anesthetics (lidocaine or articaine) will be given to evaluate the success/failure of complete numbness between the two anesthetics. Standardized administration of anesthesia is provided by controlled delivery using Midwest Comfort Control Syringe. The investigators hypothesize that supplemental infiltration anesthesia with articaine will give the same success rate as lidocaine in achieving complete pulpal anesthesia in mandibular molars with irreversible pulpits. This study consisted of two periods of patient enrollment, treatment and data collection: Part I: 101 subjects; Part II: 100 subjects.