From the FDA Drug Label
Septocaine™ was administered as submucosal infiltration and/or nerve block. The answer to the question "Nerve block in mouth" is that nerve block is a method of administration for articaine, as stated in the drug label. The label mentions that Septocaine™, which contains articaine, was administered as submucosal infiltration and/or nerve block in clinical trials for dental procedures 1.
- The recommended dosages for nerve block are listed in Table 3 of the drug label, with volumes ranging from 0.5-3.4 mL and total doses of articaine ranging from 20-136 mg 1.
- The actual volume used depends on factors such as the type and extent of the surgical procedure, depth of anesthesia, and condition of the patient.
- The onset of anesthesia following administration of Septocaine has been shown to be within 1 to 6 minutes of injection, and complete anesthesia lasts approximately 1 hour 1.
From the Research
For a nerve block in the mouth, the most effective anesthetic solution is 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine, as it provides a higher success rate and longer duration of anesthesia compared to 2% lidocaine 2.
Key Considerations
- The choice of anesthetic solution depends on the specific nerve block and the patient's medical history.
- The most common nerve blocks in the mouth include the inferior alveolar nerve block, mental nerve block, posterior superior alveolar nerve block, and infraorbital nerve block.
- Proper technique involves aspirating before injecting to avoid intravascular injection.
- Patients may experience temporary numbness, tingling, or difficulty eating until the anesthetic wears off.
Anesthetic Solutions
- 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine is recommended for inferior alveolar nerve blocks due to its higher success rate and longer duration of anesthesia 2.
- 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine is a common alternative, but it may not provide the same level of anesthesia as articaine 3, 4.
- Bupivacaine 0.5% may be used for longer procedures, providing 4-8 hours of anesthesia.
Important Notes
- There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that 4% articaine causes more nerve damage than 2% lidocaine, but caution is advised until further research is conducted 5.
- Topical anesthetics may not be effective in reducing the discomfort of deep regional block administrations such as inferior alveolar nerve block injections 6.