Which local anesthetic is approved for infiltration (subperiosteal) injection in the mandible?

Which local anesthetic is approved for infiltration (subperiosteal) injection in the mandible?

• A. Articaine
• B. Lidocaine
• C. Mepivacaine
• D. Prilocaine

Answer: (A)

Mandibular subperiosteal infiltration relies on the anesthetic diffusing through dense cortical bone to reach the nerve endings supplying the tooth. Articaine’s chemical structure, including a thiophene ring, gives it higher lipid solubility and better diffusion through bone and soft tissues than the others. This enhanced diffusion makes infiltration in the mandible more reliable, which is why articaine is approved for this use. The other local anesthetics don’t diffuse bone as effectively for mandibular infiltrasions, so they’re not the preferred or approved choice for subperiosteal injections in the mandible.

Mandibular subperiosteal infiltration relies on the anesthetic diffusing through dense cortical bone to reach the nerve endings supplying the tooth. Articaine’s chemical structure, including a thiophene ring, gives it higher lipid solubility and better diffusion through bone and soft tissues than the others. This enhanced diffusion makes infiltration in the mandible more reliable, which is why articaine is approved for this use. The other local anesthetics don’t diffuse bone as effectively for mandibular infiltrasions, so they’re not the preferred or approved choice for subperiosteal injections in the mandible.