Articaine in Pediatric Dental Procedures: Clinical Evidence from a Case Series
Abstract: Background. Effective pain control is essential in pediatric dentistry because inadequate anesthesia may increase anxiety, reduce cooperation, and adversely influence the child?s dental experience. Although 2% lidocaine with epinephrine remains a commonly used reference anesthetic, 4% articaine has attracted interest because of its favorable infiltration characteristics and pharmacokinetic profile.?-? Case series: This clinical case series describes the use of 4% articaine with epinephrine administered by buccal infiltration in children aged 6-14 years undergoing pulpectomy, extraction, root canal treatment, and restorative procedures associated with molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Articaine was administered using a 30-gauge needle and a 1.7-mL cartridge system. The reported volume ranged from 1.0 to 1.5 mL according to the procedure. Results: Clinical anesthesia was reported within approximately 2-5 minutes. The reported procedures were completed without supplemental injections, and the reported anesthetic effect lasted approximately 4-5 hours. No intraoperative pain or postoperative complications were reported in the source case series. Conclusion: Within the limitations of a small, descriptive case series, 4% articaine administered by buccal infiltration was associated with satisfactory anesthesia for selected pediatric dental procedures in children aged 6-14 years. These observations are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in controlled prospective studies.
Keywords: articaine, local anesthesia, buccal infiltration, pediatric dentistry, pain management, children
How to Cite?: Dr. Vaishnavi K Naik, Dr. Mallikarjuna K, Dr. Bharath K P, Dr. Praveenkumar Bali, "Articaine in Pediatric Dental Procedures: Clinical Evidence from a Case Series", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 825-833, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26807231401, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26807231401