Comparison of the Anaesthesia Success Rate in Maxillary First and Second Molars with 3% Prilocaine as the Anaesthetic Agent

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the success rate of anaesthesia with 3% prilocaine and felypressin (0.03 IU/mL) in maxillary first and second molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. METHODS: The study population was 159 patients (53 males, 106 females) who had maxillary first or second molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis (84 first molars, 75 second molars). A buccal infiltration of 3% prilocaine with 0.03 IU/mL felypressin was used as the primary anaesthetic technique. In addition to using a categorised pain score, sound, eye movement and body motion were considered signs of anaesthesia efficacy. The data were analysed with independent t and Chi-square tests. Significance was set at α=0.05. RESULTS: Overall, the success rate was 56.6% in maxillary molars, 53.6% in maxillary first molars, and 60% in maxillary second molars. There was no statistically significant difference between maxillary first and second molars in terms of anaesthesia success rate (P>0.05). The overall success rate of intraligament supplementary injections was 50%, and intrapulpal supplementary injections was 97.91%. No significant difference was found between maxillary first and second molars in terms of the success rate of the supplemental techniques (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: No significant difference was found between maxillary first and second molars in terms of anaesthesia success rate when 3% prilocaine with 0.03 IU/mL felypressin was used as an anaesthetic solution for the infiltration injection.