A Prospective, Randomized Comparison of the Anesthetic Efficacy of the Greater Palatine and High Tuberosity Second Division Nerve Blocks

IntroductionFew clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy of the maxillary second division nerve block. The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to compare the anesthetic efficacy of the greater palatine second division nerve block and the high tuberosity second division nerve block technique by using 3.6 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine.MethodsForty subjects randomly received greater palatine nerve blocks and high tuberosity nerve blocks of 3.6 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine at 2 separate appointments spaced at least 1 week apart. The anterior, premolar, and molar teeth were pulp tested in 4-minute cycles for a total of 60 minutes.Results and ConclusionsBoth techniques resulted in a high success rate of pulpal anesthesia (95%–100%) for first and second molars. Around 70%–80% of the second premolars were anesthetized with both techniques. Both techniques were ineffective for profound pulpal anesthesia of the anterior teeth and first premolars.