The present study tested the hypothesis that the amount and severity of preoperative pain will affect the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. One-hundred seventy-seven adult volunteer subjects, actively experiencing pain in a mandibular molar, participated in this prospective double-blind study carried out at 2 different centers. The patients were classified into 3 groups on the basis of severity of preoperative pain: mild, 1-54 mm on the Heft-Parker visual analog scale (HP VAS); moderate, 55-114 mm; and severe, greater than 114 mm. After IANB with 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine, endodontic access preparation was initiated. Pain during treatment was recorded using the HP VAS. The primary outcome measure was the ability to undertake pulp access and canal instrumentation with no or mild pain. The success rates were statistically analyzed by multiple logistic regression test. There was a significant difference between the mild and severe preoperative pain group (P = .03). There was a positive correlation between the values of preoperative and intraoperative pain (r = .2 and .4 at 2 centers). The amount of preoperative pain can affect the anesthetic success rates of IANB in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

Increasing the volume of 4% articaine with 1 : 100 000 epinephrine from 1.8 to 3.6 mL, given as supplementary buccal infiltrations after a failed primary IANB with 1.8 mL of 4% articaine with 1 : 100 000, did not improve the anaesthetic success rates in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

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Context: Lower degree of conversion (DC%) of monomer to polymer in a resin composite restoration could be a health hazard for the patient as well as it could affect the longevity of the restoration. Aims: This study is aimed to compare and evaluate the DC% of four different composites polymerized using ultrafast photopolymerization. Settings and Design: In-vitro study. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 disc-shaped composite samples were used in the study. Twenty samples were prepared for each group using 2 mm height and 6 mm diameter Tygon tube as a matrix. All of the composites were cured using the Woodpecker i Led light-curing unit with an intensity of 2300–2500 mW/cm 2 (TURBO mode). Samples in Group 1 were cured for 1 s and samples in Group 2 were cured for 3 s. Each group had 4 subgroups of five samples of the 4 resin composites tested. After photo-activation, the specimens were stored under dark dry conditions at room temperature for 24 h before testing. The DC% was measured using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Statistical Analysis Used: The DC% were analyzed using ANOVA, and Tukey HSD post hoc test using IBM SPSS 21 software. Results: Among the experimental groups, Group 2 showed a higher DC% which ranges from 93.7% to 95.4% than Group 1 which ranges from 58.5% to 65.5%. There was a statistically significant difference in the DC% among the materials tested ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Within the limitations of the study, it was concluded that composites cured for 3 s showed a higher DC% which ranges from 93.7% to 95.4% than those cured for 1 s. The DC% also varied among the four different composites tested.