Comparison of the effectiveness of etidocaine and lidocaine as local anesthetic agents during oral surgery.

In a double-blind study conducted in 112 patients undergoing removal of four impacted third molar teeth, etidocaine hydrochloride 1.5% solution with epinephrine 1:200,000 and lidocaine hydrochloride 2.0% solution with epinephrine 1:100,000 were used, one on each side of the face, to produce inferior alveolar nerve block, infiltration anesthesia of the maxillary tooth and hemostasis of the mucoperiosteum around each tooth.Surgically adequate anesthesia was rapidly produced by both agents but the duration of action of etidocaine was longer than that of lidocaine as reflected in more prolonged numbness of the lip and delayed onset of pain. Moreover, after etidocaine treatment fewer patients reported severe pain as the local anesthesia receded. No adverse local or systemic effects were observed in, or reported by, any of the patients.