A comparison of inferior alveolar nerve block and periodontal ligament injections during endodontic treatment of human mandibular first premolars

Abstract EN

Background : Profound pulpal anesthesia for root canal treatment is difficult to achieve in mandible posterior teeth.

Several authors emphasized on the effects of periodontal ligament injection as a primary or supplementary technique.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of periodontal ligament injection and inferior alveolar nerve block injection in providing profound pulpal anesthesia for endodontic treatment of human mandible first premolars ; and to compare the discomfort associated with each injection in regard to initial needle insertion and injection of solution.

Materials and Methods : Periodontal ligament injection was used as a primary injection technique to anesthetize 30 sound, healthy mandible first premolars and it was compared to the pulpal anesthesia of the other 30 mandible first premolars on the other side of the same patient, which were anesthetized using the inferior alveolar nerve block injection.

Results : The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two injection techniques.

Conclusion : The periodontal ligament injection can be used effectively to anesthetize mandible first premolars, as a primary technique, during root canal therapy procedure.

Pain associated with insertion of needle and injection of solution for both injection techniques was acceptable.