Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy and Onset of Local Anesthesia Using Buffered 2% Lidocaine with 1:100,000 Adrenaline and Non-Buffered 2% Lido caine with 1:100,000 Adrenaline in Dental Extraction – A Clinical Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ajm.2026.9.01.14Keywords:
Buffered local anesthesia, lidocaine, onset time, dental extraction, pain perceptionAbstract
Aim: To comparatively evaluate the onset time and efficacy of buffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline and non-buffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline in patients undergoing dental extraction. Materials and Methods: This randomized, single-blind clinical study was conducted on 40 patients indicated for simple dental extraction. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 20 each). Group I received non-buffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline, while Group II received buffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline. The buffered solution was prepared by adding 8.4% sodium bicarbonate to the anesthetic solution immediately before administration. The onset time of anesthesia was recorded using a stopwatch from completion of injection to the first subjective sign of numbness. Pain during injection and pain during extraction were assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The need for supplementary anesthesia was also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent t-test and Chi-square test, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The buffered lidocaine group demonstrated a significantly faster onset of anesthesia compared to the non-buffered group (p < 0.05). Pain scores during injection and during extraction were significantly lower in the buffered group. Additionally, fewer patients in the buffered group required supplementary anesthesia. Conclusion: Buffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline provides faster onset and improved anesthetic efficacy with reduced pain perception compared to non-buffered lidocaine during dental extraction. Its use may enhance patient comfort and clinical efficiency in routine dental practice.References
Reed KL, Malamed SF, Fonner AM. Local anesthesia part 2: technical considerations. Anesth Prog. 2012 Fall;59(3):127-36; quiz 137.
Decloux D, Ouanounou A. Local anaesthesia in dentistry: a review. Int Dent J. 2021 Apr;71(2):87-95.
Tole N, Neeli A. Evaluation of the efficacy of buffered local anesthetic in extraction of infected teeth: randomized double-blind study. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024 Jun;28(2):803-7.
Vent A, Surber C, Johansen G, Tracy N, Figueiredo V, Schönbächler G, Imhof L, Buset C, Hafner J. Buffered lidocaine 1%/epinephrine 1:100,000 with sodium bicarbonate (sodium hydrogen carbonate) in a 3:1 ratio is less painful than a 9:1 ratio: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83(1):159-65.
Abou Agwa T, Sakka S, Al-Jundi A, Gazal G. Effect of adding sodium bicarbonate 8.4% to local anesthesia on pain during upper canine infiltration. Saudi J Anaesth. 2024 Oct-Dec;18(4):504-8.
Palanivel I, Ramakrishnan K, Narayanan V, Chandran S, Gurram P. A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, crossover comparison of buffered versus nonbuffered 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 adrenaline for dental extraction. Int J Appl Dent Sci. 2020;6(1):35-8.
Kalra G, Makkar S, Menrai N, Kalia V, Suri N, Gupta S. Comparative evaluation of the efficacy and onset of local anesthesia using buffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline and nonbuffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline in dental extraction. J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2023;23(5):1255-60.
AlShehabi IY, AlAjami M, Orabi MF, Khudair H. Evaluation of the efficiency of lidocaine 2% with epinephrine 1:80,000 buffered by sodium bicarbonate during regional anesthesia: a clinical study. Int J Appl Dent Sci. 2020;6(2):105-8.
Fatima S, Ishaq M, Khan AA, Nadeem R, Saeed Z, Zaidi SS. Comparison of buffered with standard local anesthesia in odontogenic infections: a randomized controlled trial. J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol. 2025.
Aulestia-Viera PV, Braga MM, Borsatti MA. Do buffered local anesthetics provide more successful anesthesia than nonbuffered solutions in patients with pulpally involved teeth requiring dental therapy? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Endod J. 2018;51(8):862-76.

