Cochrane · intervention · CD006487

Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia

St George, G, Morgan, A, Meechan, J, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2018 · Cochrane Library

Full textEvery question was extracted from the full review (methods and results), not only its Summary of Findings table.
Questions
112
current version
GRADE rated
57
No studies
39
Included studies
123
as reported
No studies 39 · 34.8%Ungraded 16 · 14.3%Very low 30 · 26.8%Low 23 · 20.5%Moderate 4 · 3.6%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Review question

ElementPlanned (methods)Found (results)
PopulationParticipants regardless of age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested; adults defined as over 16 years; excluded participants taking regular medications that may alter pain perception19,223 participants in 123 RCTs (ages 4-81 years; 95 studies mixed sex, 6 male-only); undergoing extraction/surgery (30 studies), endodontic treatment of irreversible pulpitis (20), restorative procedures (8), periodontal/root canal or various procedures, and volunteers in simulated scenario testing (electric pulp tester/cold/soft tissue); 68 studies (6615 participants) pooled for meta-analysis (n=123)
InterventionAll commercial preparations of dental local anaesthetic (e.g. lidocaine, articaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, bupivacaine at various concentrations, with or without vasoconstrictor) versus all other commercial preparations; one dosage versus a different dose by the same injection technique; one concentration versus a higher concentration by the same injection technique; primary infiltration and block anaesthesia only (supplemental anaesthesia excluded)14 formulations of lidocaine, articaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine and bupivacaine at various concentrations and vasoconstrictor levels (n=123)
ComparisonAll other commercial preparations of dental local anaesthetic/A different dose/A higher concentrationComparator local anaesthetic formulation in each head-to-head comparison (n=123)
OutcomesSuccess of local anaesthesia (absence of pain on VAS or other method, or pulpal anaesthesia via electric pulp tester or cold stimulus); speed of onset; duration; adverse effects (pain on injection, pain following injection, paraesthesia, allergy); participants' experience including preference and overall experience (secondary)Success of anaesthesia - clinical, electric pulp tester, and soft tissue testing (graded); speed of onset (simulated only; no clinical study met the definition); duration (simulated only); adverse effects - pain on injection, pain following injection, paraesthesia, allergy (rare, mostly not poolable); participants' experience (no data) (23 comparisons, 57 pooled outcomes)
Study designsRandomized controlled trials (parallel or cross-over) testing different formulations of local anaesthetic in clinical procedures or simulated scenario studiesRCT: parallel design (n=54); cross-over design (n=68); design unclear (n=1)
TimingNot specifiedFollow-up varied and was often not reported (e.g. 5-30 minutes post-injection to end of the clinical procedure; onset/duration measured in minutes)

Search date: 2018-01. Databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2018 Issue 1); MEDLINE (Ovid SP); Embase (Ovid SP); CINAHL PLUS (EBSCOhost); ISI Web of Science; IndMED; KoreaMED; Panteleimon; Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR); Ingenta Connect

Questions and results

Show all 2 versions

4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
14 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD -0.23 [-0.45, -0.01]6 studies · 637 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
OR 2.71 [1.74, 4.22]8 studies · 309 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, indirectness
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD 21.87 [-10.96, 54.71]3 studies · 52 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of diseased pulps with irreversible pulpitis)
10 minutes post-injection to end of clinical procedure
RR 1.6 [1.1, 2.32]
309 per 1000 vs 494 per 1000
4 studies · 203 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Participants' experience of the procedures
No data from the included studies were available.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported)
RR 1.03 [0.99, 1.07]6 studies · 355 participantsModerate
Downgraded: indirectness
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition), Heft-Parker VAS 0-170 mm
0-1 minute following needle insertion
MD 4.74 [-1.98, 11.46]
4.74 [-1.98, 11.46] mm (higher = more pain)
3 studies · 157 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -0.63 [-1.69, 0.42]6 studies · 202 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Adverse effects: pain following injection, Heft-Parker VAS 0-170 mm
Measured at the time anaesthesia wore off
MD 6.41 [1.01, 11.8]
6.41 [1.01, 11.8] mm (higher = more pain)
3 studies · 156 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD 56.88 [44.08, 69.69]2 studies · 422 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, indirectness

3% prilocaine, 0.03 IU felypressin vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition)
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of healthy pulps, hard and soft tissues)
Not reported (estimated < 2 hours)
RR 0.86 [0.79, 0.95]
763 per 1000 vs 656 per 1000
2 studies · 907 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse effects: pain following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies

4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
10 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -8.98 [-15.17, -2.79]5 studies · 162 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition)
SoF: See comment (orphan study); 86 participants, 172 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 86 participantsUngraded
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.97 [0.87, 1.08]5 studies · 248 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of healthy pulps, hard and soft tissues)
5 minutes post-injection to end of clinical procedure
RR 0.85 [0.71, 1.02]
940 per 1000 vs 799 per 1000
3 studies · 930 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: See comment, not estimable; 63 participants, 187 interventions (1 study); 1 case of urticaria occurred (unclear which anaesthetic). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 63 participantsUngraded
Adverse effects: pain following injection
SoF: See comment (orphan study; exact time of follow-up not reported); 86 participants, 172 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 86 participantsUngraded
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD 0.15 [-0.42, 0.73]5 studies · 162 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

4% prilocaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
11 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.93 [0.75, 1.17]2 studies · 60 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness
Adverse effects: pain following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD -33.95 [-48.05, -19.84]3 studies · 698 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition)
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD 0.02 [-0.10, 0.14]2 studies · 406 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -0.96 [-2.87, 0.95]2 studies · 52 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: See comment; 0 participants (0 studies); 1 case of prolonged anaesthesia recorded; no clinical studies met the outcome definition (unable to confirm whether prolonged anaesthesia = paraesthesia).0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of healthy pulps, hard and soft tissues)
5-30 minutes
RR 0.86 [0.75, 0.99]
828 per 1000 vs 712 per 1000
2 studies · 228 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision

4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 0.5% bupivacaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
9 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition)
SoF: See comment (orphan study; unclear whether data relate to just solution deposition; SDs not reported); 18 participants, 36 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Adverse effects: pain following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of healthy pulps, hard and soft tissues)
10 minutes post-injection to end of clinical procedure
OR 0.87 [0.27, 2.83]
481 per 1000 vs 446 per 1000
2 studies · 37 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD -0.85 [-1.26, -0.44]2 studies · 69 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD -172.61 [-239.69, -105.53]2 studies · 39 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

0.5% bupivacaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
12 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: pain following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of healthy pulps, hard and soft tissues)
10 minutes post-injection to end of clinical procedure
OR 0.58 [0.07, 5.12]
611 per 1000 vs 477 per 1000
2 studies · 31 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD 222.88 [135.99, 309.76]6 studies · 232 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: See comment, not estimable (orphan study; duration of follow-up not reported); 100 participants, 100 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 100 participantsUngraded
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition)
SoF: See comment (orphan study; unclear whether data relate to just solution deposition; SDs not reported); 18 participants, 36 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD 0.02 [-1.07, 1.10]3 studies · 79 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD 3.32 [0.27, 6.37]2 studies · 63 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.80 [0.62, 1.05]3 studies · 90 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported; 100% success in all studies)
'Other comparisons with 100% success': IANB - Sampaio 2012 35/35 vs 35/35; Fernandez 2005 39/39 vs 39/39. Both formulations 100% successful; no meta-analysis (no difference).2 studies · 74 participantsUngraded
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies

4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
8 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Adverse effects: pain following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported)
RR 1.07 [0.73, 1.59]2 studies · 68 participantsVery low
Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of healthy pulps, hard and soft tissues)
10-20 minutes
OR 3.82 [0.61, 23.82]
931 per 1000 vs 996 per 1000
2 studies · 110 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition)
SoF: See comment; 147 participants, 147 interventions (2 studies); unclear whether data relate to just solution deposition. Not pooled/graded.2 studies · 147 participantsUngraded
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies

2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
8 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Speed of onset of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: pain following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported; 100% success in all studies)
'Other comparisons with 100% success': IANB - Allegretti 2016 22/22 vs 22/22; Visconti 2016 21/21 vs 21/21. Both formulations 100% successful; no meta-analysis (no difference).2 studies · 43 participantsUngraded
Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of diseased pulps with irreversible pulpitis)
10-14 minutes post-injection to end of clinical procedure
RR 1.16 [0.25, 5.45]
231 per 1000 vs 268 per 1000
2 studies · 68 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency
Adverse effects: paraesthesia following injection
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition)
SoF: See comment (orphan study; unclear whether data relate to just solution deposition); 48 participants, 48 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded.1 study · 48 participantsUngraded
Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies

2% lidocaine, 1:50,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:80,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.81 [0.65, 1.01]2 studies · 60 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported; 100% success in all studies)
'100% success': mandibular BI - Dagher 1997 30/30 vs 30/30; IANB - Yared 1997 30/30 vs 30/30. Both 100% successful; no meta-analysis.2 studies · 60 participantsUngraded

2% lidocaine, 1:50,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.99 [0.88, 1.12]7 studies · 210 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported; 100% success in all studies)
'100% success' (lidocaine 1:100,000 vs 1:50,000): infraorbital block - Berberich 2009 40/40 vs 40/40; mandibular BI - Dagher 1997 30/30, Yonchak 2001 40/40; IANB - Yared 1997 30/30, Wali 2010 30/30. Both 100% successful.5 studies · 170 participantsUngraded
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -0.44 [-1.66, 0.79]4 studies · 92 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

2% lidocaine, 1:80,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 1.27 [1.01, 1.59]2 studies · 60 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

2% lidocaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.89 [0.63, 1.26]3 studies · 70 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness

3% mepivacaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -1.23 [-2.31, -0.16]3 studies · 85 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (soft tissue, self-reported; 100% success in all studies)
'100% success' (lidocaine 1:100,000 vs 3% mepivacaine plain): infraorbital block - Berberich 2009 40/40 vs 40/40; IANB - Cohen 1993 27/27 vs 34/34, McLean 1993 30/30 vs 30/30. Both 100% successful.3 studies · 121 participantsUngraded
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.92 [0.83, 1.02]6 studies · 208 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness

3% mepivacaine plain vs 2% lidocaine, 1:50,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.97 [0.88, 1.07]2 studies · 70 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -0.56 [-1.54, 0.42]2 studies · 58 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness

2% mepivacaine, 1:20,000 levonordefrin vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD 4.43 [-10.63, 19.48]2 studies · 458 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (clinical; orphan data)
No data available for meta-analysis; orphan clinical success data summarized in Table 6 (e.g. clinical anaesthesia success 2% lidocaine 1:100,000 64/110 vs 2% mepivacaine 1:20,000 levonordefrin 99/113). Not…NRUngraded

4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 1.33 [0.33, 5.36]2 studies · 28 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD 10.33 [-22.08, 42.74]2 studies · 40 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD 0.19 [-2.06, 2.45]2 studies · 40 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness

4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:80,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD -0.78 [-1.04, -0.52]2 studies · 116 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (clinical; orphan data)
No data available for meta-analysis; orphan data summarized in Table 6. Not pooled/graded.NRUngraded

4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% prilocaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 1.15 [0.93, 1.41]3 studies · 97 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

4% prilocaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
4 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD -0.01 [-0.14, 0.11]2 studies · 421 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, indirectness
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD -11.80 [-27.76, 4.16]2 studies · 533 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -1.19 [-3.08, 0.70]2 studies · 39 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 1.14 [0.91, 1.43]2 studies · 48 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness

4% articaine plain vs 4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.61 [0.38, 0.97]2 studies · 134 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD 0.13 [-0.54, 0.80]2 studies · 100 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -37.08 [-60.95, -13.21]2 studies · 100 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness

4% articaine plain vs 4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD -28.36 [-42.06, -14.65]2 studies · 102 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 0.58 [0.33, 1.01]2 studies · 134 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
MD 0.03 [-0.66, 0.71]2 studies · 102 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

4% prilocaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% prilocaine plain

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated)
MD 18.78 [9.02, 28.54]2 studies · 506 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, indirectness
Success of local anaesthesia (clinical/EPT; orphan data)
No data available for meta-analysis; data summarized in Table 5 (orphan). Not pooled/graded.NRUngraded

4% prilocaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine

Population: Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario studies in which dental local anaesthesia was tested
1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Success of local anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps)
RR 1.74 [1.16, 2.60]2 studies · 78 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision, indirectness