In patients requiring surgery for impacted mandibular third molars (wisdom teeth), ropivacaine 0.5% but not lignocaine hydrochloride 2% with adrenaline for inferior alveolar nerve block can offer superior pain relief and effective anesthesia as established from this randomized study.

To distinguish between anesthetic efficacy of ropivacaine 0.5%  and Lignocaine hydrochloride 2% with adrenaline (1:80,000) in patients having surgery for impacted mandibular third molars.

Forty patients in need of surgery of bilaterally impacted mandibular third molars were considered. The inception, period, and depth of anesthesia; post-surgery pain, analgesia duration, and adverse effects of ropivacaine 0.5% and lignocaine 2% with 1:80,000 adrenaline were assessed. The intradermal administration of .5 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine was done to look for any allergic reaction.

Ropivacaine 0.5% had a superior depth of anesthesia, longer duration of action, and post-surgery pain-relieving effect compared to lignocaine 2% with 1:80,000 adrenaline. No adverse effects were reported.

As compared to lignocaine 2% with 1:80,000 adrenaline, the use of ropivacaine 0.5% as an anesthetic agent is safe, effective, clinically acceptable, and equally potent for a longer duration of surgical procedures.