EEG Frequency and Vigilance Following Dental Anesthesia Using Articaine 4%

Objectives: Up to now there are no results concerning the possible limitations in the fitness to drive. The aim of the study was to obtain informations about possible side effects of local anesthesia on vigilance and EEG frequency. Methods: The study was performed on ten healthy young subjects, aged from twenty five to thirty five years. We used two different dosages from 1.5 mg and 3.0 mg articaine 4% per kilogram body weight (b.w.) with a vasoconstrictor concentration of 1:200.000 epinephrine. For injection we used infiltration in the upper jaw on both sides within 5 min vigilance. Analysis was performed using EEG monitoring according to the 10/20-Systems in eight positions. As a criterion for vigilance we used the so called Fast-Fourrier-Transformation related to the EEG power spectra of alpha1, alpha2, beta, theta and delta. Analysis was performed for a one minute period every five minutes. Data analysis was carried out with SPSS (windows version 6.1) using Manova for repeated measurements and significance analyses using Averaged-F-Test as well as T-Test-Pairs. Significance was p<0.05. Results: Only the delta frequency demonstrated a reduction of power up to 80 minutes in a period of 45 minutes after application of the local anesthesia. There was no significant difference between 1.5 mg b.w. and 3.0 mg up to 200 min after injection. Conclusion: From our results we draw the conclusion that there are no or only little side effects on the central nervous system of local anesthesia using articaine on the EEG frequency and vigilance.