Articaine
Pronunciation: AR-ti-kane
Amide local anesthetic with enhanced tissue penetration properties, commonly used for pulpal anesthesia and supplemental injection techniques.
Full Definition
Articaine is a unique amide local anesthetic containing both amide and ester linkages, providing superior diffusion through hard and soft tissues compared to lidocaine. Available as 4% solution with epinephrine (1:100,000 or 1:200,000), articaine achieves reliable pulpal anesthesia with infiltration techniques that might fail with other anesthetics. The drug's enhanced penetration makes it particularly effective for mandibular infiltrations and supplemental anesthetic techniques. However, articaine has been associated with a slightly higher incidence of paresthesia following inferior alveolar nerve blocks, though this remains controversial. Its rapid onset and intermediate duration make it suitable for most oral surgical procedures.
Usage
Usage note: Always document concentration and vasoconstrictor ratio; note any supplemental injection techniques used.
In Context
- "4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine provided excellent infiltration anesthesia for the mandibular premolar extraction." — Anesthetic technique documentation
- "The supplemental articaine injection achieved profound pulpal anesthesia when the initial block was insufficient." — Procedure modification note