COMPARISON OF 0.5 MG DEXAMETHASONE AND PLACEBO USED AS PREMEDICATION FOR SUCCESS OF INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE BLOCK

Abstract

In irreversible pulpitis, it is very difficult to achieve local anesthesia which is very frustrating condition for a dentist. Steroids are a most valuable adjunctive to the armamentarium available to health professionals to increase the success rate of inferior alveolar nerve block. Objective of the study was to compare the effects of steroids with placebo before inferior alveolar nerve block for reducing the pain. One hundred and four patients were included from the OPD of Operative Dentistry Department of Multan Dental College. Study subjects were divided into two groups by using random number table. The patients in group A received 0.5 mg tablet of dexamethasone and patients in group B received identical placebo tablet one hour before the administration of a conventional inferior alveolar nerve block. When success rate of inferior alveolar nerve block of group A(dexamethasone) and group B (Placebo) were compared among age groups and gender then it was found that success rate of group A was significantly more than that of group B (Table 1, 2). Conclusion of the study was that use of 0.5mg Dexamethasone showed promising results for the success rate of inferior alveolar nerve block.