Analgesic Efficacy of 0.75% Ropivacaine for Lower Third Molar Surgery

Introduction: Since there is no data concerning local analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine for lower third molar surgery, the aim of this doubleblind study was to compare local anaesthetic parameters and postoperative analgesic requirements after the use of ropivacaine and bupivacaine for the inferior alveolar nerve block. Materials and Method: 20 healthy patients were equally randomised into the ropivacaine (0.75%, 2 ml) or bupivacaine (0.5%, 2 ml) groups. The onset and duration of anaesthesia (the lower lip numbness and pinprick test) and intensity of anaesthesia (visual analogue and verbal rating scales) were determined. The postoperative pain reports and analgesic requirements were also recorded. Results: There were no significant differences concerning parameters of the achieved anaesthesia. 2 patients in the bupivacaine group felt postoperative pain without the need for pain medication. Conclusion: Ropivacaine is suitable for achieving local anaesthesia in lower third molar surgery, especially when prolonged analgesia is desired.