PRELIMINARY REPORT IN THE USE OF XYLOCAINE AS A LOCAL ANESTHETIC IN DENTISTRY

¹ Department of Dentistry, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md.

1. The anesthetizing effect of Xylocaine clearly excels that of procaine. This is particularly evident in stubborn cases.

2. The rapidity with which it takes effect is considerably greater than that of procaine.

3. In infiltration it is more expansive to adjacent teeth. In mandibular blocks, it is more effective in the premolar area.

4. Local tissue reaction and general side reactions are extremely rare.

5. In contradistinction to procaine, Xylocaine gives anesthesia effect without the addition of epinephrine.

6. Postinjection reactions are rare.

7. The selectivity of the drug to the sensory and parasympathetic nerve fibers in preference to the motor nerves make it more comfortable to the patient subjectively.

8. In cases of procaine dermatitis, Xylocaine can be used without reaction.