The Anesthetic Efficacy of 3% Mepivacaine Plus 2% Lidocaine With 1:100,000 Epinephrine for Lower Jaw Dental Injections

One hundred adult male and female subjects will randomly receive two sets of inferior alveolar block injections (shots) consisting of; 1.) an injection of 1.8 mL of 3% mepivacaine followed by 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, and 2.) an injection of 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine followed by 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, at two separate appointments spaced at least two weeks apart, in a crossover design. Whether the subject receives the mepivacaine or the lidocaine for the first injection will be determined randomly. The doctor will not know whether the subject receives mepivacaine or lidocaine for the first injection. The subject will not know which anesthetics he/she receives. A pulp tester will be used to test the lower jaw teeth (molars, premolars, and incisors) for anesthesia (numbness) in 4-minute time cycles for 60 minutes. The data will be statistically analyzed.