Efficacy of articaine formulations: quantitative reviews.

In 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of 4% articaine with epinephrine 1:100,000, and with epinephrine 1:200,000 in 2006. Articaine has been commonly compared with its predecessor, lidocaine hydrochloride. Since its introduction in 1948, lidocaine has maintained a status as the most widely used local dental anesthetic in most countries. Proven efficacy with low allergenicity and toxicity over long-term clinical use and research have confirmed the value and safety of this drug. Thus, it became the gold standard to which all new local anesthetics are compared. Despite the gold standard status of lidocaine, numerous reports and editorials have supported and recognized the use of articaine.