Background: The author describes the use of the infiltration anesthetic technique to anesthetize mandibular teeth in adults and explores its mechanism of action.
Methods: The author reviewed articles describing randomized controlled trials of the mandibular infiltration anesthetic technique in healthy participants.
Results: The author found that using the mandibular infiltration anesthetic technique can produce anesthesia in adult mandibular teeth. The success was dose dependent and the choice of anesthetic solution was significant; 4 percent articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine was more effective than 2 percent lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. Combining buccal and lingual infiltrations increased success in the mandibular incisor region. The success of the mechanism of infiltration of anesthetic at the mandibular first molar appeared to depend on the mental foramen.
Conclusions: The mandibular infiltration anesthetic technique is an effective method of anesthetizing mandibular incisors. Four percent articaine with epinephrine appears to be the preferred solution.
Clinical implications: The choice of anesthetic solution is important when using the infiltration anesthetic technique in the adult mandible.