The efficacy of ropivacaine as a dental local anaesthetic.

The objectives was to investigate the efficacy of ropivacaine in dentistry. This open-labelled, parallel-group study included 41 subjects randomised to 1 ml or 2 ml ropivacaine 7.5 mg/ml and to maxillary infiltration or nerve block of the inferior alveolar nerve. Pinprick pain, electrical pulpal testing, and numbness were used as efficacy measures. Following onset, the duration was measured until baseline status was re-established or after a maximum of 6 h. A high frequency of anaesthesia was obtained. The pulpal anaesthesia mean onset time was 2.1 and 1.6 min after end of infiltration and 2.9 min and 4.5 min following end of nerve block injection for the 1 and 2 ml ropivacaine respectively. Pulpal anaesthesia mean duration was 0.4 and 1.3 h after infiltration and 3.7 and 4.3 h for nerve block respectively. The mean lip numbness duration ranged from 3.7 to 5.1 h for the upper lip and from 7.5 to 8.4 h of the lower lip. In conclusion 1 and 2 ml ropivacaine 7.5 mg/ml provided a high frequency of anaesthesia with short onset time and long duration following nerve block. Ropivacaine may be suitable for time-consuming oral procedures and/or when prolonged postoperative analgesia is desirable.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes