Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the anaesthetic efficacy of 4% Alexadricaine versus 2% Mepecaine-L for infiltration anaesthesia in the extraction of maxillary first primary molars in children.
Subjects and Methods: The present study is a split-mouth study in which ten children aged from 5 to 7 years with bilateral badly decayed maxillary first primary molars indicated for extraction were selected from the outpatient diagnostic clinic in Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. The children's teeth were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A received 4% Alexadricaine and group B received 2% Mepecaine-L for infiltration anaesthesia. The intra-operative pain during the extraction was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Sound, Eyes and Motor Scale (SEM). Moreover, the onset and duration of soft tissue anaesthesia were objectively evaluated.
Results: Group A showed slightly higher values of VAS and SEM scale than group B regarding intra-operative pain during extraction with a statistically non-significant difference. Regarding the onset of soft tissue anaesthesia, both groups had the same mean value (0.25±0.00). Regarding the duration of soft tissue anaesthesia, group A (214.00±9.66 minutes) showed a significantly higher mean value than group B (162.50±16.87 minutes) with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Regarding infiltration anaesthesia in the extraction of maxillary first primary molars in children, both 4% Alexadricaine and 2% Mepecaine-L can provide similar effective pain control with rapid onset of action. However, 4% Alexadricaine has a longer duration of soft tissue numbness than 2% Mepecaine-L.