• Malin Ernberg and Sigvard Kopp.
• Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, Institute of Odontology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. malin.ernberg@ofa.ki.se
• J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 2002 Sep 1; 60 (9): 1004-10; discussion 1010-11.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the optimal concentration and volumes of ropivacaine for dental anesthesia as regards onset and duration of action.Subjects And MethodsThirty healthy individuals with a mean age of 32 years participated in the study on a voluntary basis. All subjects received a ropivacaine injection in 1 of 3 randomized concentrations (2.0, 5.0, or 7.5 mg/mL) for infiltration anesthesia and mandibular nerve block in a double-blind manner. The onset time and duration of anesthesia were assessed by electric pulp test, pinprick test of the gingiva, and presence of feeling of numbness of the lip.ResultsRegardless of dose, only 5 patients received pulpal anesthesia after infiltration, but all 3 concentrations anesthetized the gingiva and upper lip. The onset of pulpal anesthesia occurred less than 5 minutes after injection and lasted for 4 to 58 minutes. Pinprick anesthesia lasted for 8 to 48 minutes, and numbness of the upper lip lasted 1 to 4 hours. The effectiveness of the mandibular nerve block with regard to pulpal anesthesia was dose dependent. Only ropivacaine at 7.5 mg/mL produced sufficient anesthesia. The onset of pulpal anesthesia occurred less than 10 minutes after injection and lasted for 2 to 6 hours. Pinprick anesthesia lasted for 3 to 6 hours and numbness of the lower lip lasted for 5 to 9 hours.ConclusionThis study shows that ropivacaine could be useful as a local anesthetic for mandibular nerve block in dentistry and that the very long duration of both pulpal and soft tissue anesthesia may be favorable in reducing postoperative pain.Copyright 2002 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

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