BackgroundTo evaluate the serum level of the local anesthetic mepivacaine 3% without vasoconstrictor in patients who underwent procedures performed in the anterior and posterior maxilla, through a method of possible extraction to quantify it in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Material and MethodsThis was a hybrid study consisting of 18 patients (7 females and 11 males) classified as ASA I, adults and with normal body mass index, submitted to procedures in the anterior region (group I) and posterior region of the maxilla (group II). For 40 minutes, five 6 ml blood samples were collected every 10 minutes after infiltrative injection in each region of the maxilla. Serum levels of the drug were obtained through HPLC. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout the procedure.ResultsWhen compared to the general average of the concentrations of each group, significant values (p<0.05) with greater absorption were observed for the anterior region of the maxilla (group I). There was no significant difference when comparing blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) values.ConclusionsThe concentrations found are safe for infiltrative anesthesia in the analyzed patients, there was a higher plasma level of the local anesthetic in the anterior region of the maxilla and there was no change in HR and BP in relation to the anesthetized area. Key words:Local anesthetic. toxicity. mepivacaine. chromatography. chromatography, high pressure liquid.