
Revista Áquila, n. 35, e35009, 2026
ISSN: 1414-8846 | E-ISSN 2317-6474
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61565/revista-aquila.i35.1069
estimadas de aproximadamente 1:609.000 e 1:1.100.000 injeções, respectivamente, e riscos relativos até 3,6
vezes maiores do que o esperado em termos de participação de mercado. Por outro lado, ensaios
randomizados prospectivos não identificaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas na neurotoxicidade
entre articaína e lidocaína. O nervo lingual representava 70–79% das lesões do nervo mandibular,
possivelmente devido à sua localização superficial e arquitetura predominantemente unifascicular. A maioria
dos estudos de farmacovigilância não relatou volume anestésico, duração dos sintomas ou controle adequado
para trauma cirúrgico, técnica de injeção e variação anatômica. Evidências da anestesia regional periférica na
medicina não demonstraram um sinal neurotóxico específico da articaína reproduzível. Conclusões: As
evidências atuais não apoiam neurotoxicidade intrínseca e exclusiva de 4% de articaína. As complicações
neurossensoriais provavelmente são multifatoriais, envolvendo vulnerabilidade anatômica, trauma por
agulha, técnica de injeção, concentração anestésica e volume administrado. A notificação desproporcional
pode refletir viés de notificação, uso preferencial em casos inflamatórios complexos e confusão relacionada a
procedimentos. São necessários estudos prospectivos com relato padronizado de dose, volume, duração dos
sintomas e lesão permanente versus temporária.
Palavras-chave: Articaína. Parestesia. Anestesia odontológica. Lesão nervosa. Neurotoxicidade.
Farmacovigilância.
ABSTRACT
Local anesthesia is essential for pain control in dentistry; however, neurosensory complications, particularly
paresthesia affecting the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves, remain clinically significant adverse events.
This narrative review critically evaluated the association between 4% articaine and neurosensory
disturbances in dental practice. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, SciELO, LILACS Plus (via
BVS), and Google Scholar was conducted in May 2026. Controlled vocabulary and free-text terms were
combined for articaine/carticaine, adverse drug effects, paresthesia, facial paralysis, formication, and
dysesthesia. Of 320 records identified, 16 studies met predefined PICO-based eligibility criteria after
deduplication and screening. Studies involving articaine combined with other anesthetics, animal models, or
non-dental settings were excluded. Results: Included studies, published between 1995 and 2026, comprised
pharmacovigilance analyses, randomized clinical trials, and case reports. Pharmacovigilance data suggested
disproportionate reporting of paresthesia after 4% articaine compared with 2% lidocaine, with estimated
incidences of approximately 1:609,000 and 1:1,100,000 injections, respectively, and relative risks up to 3.6
times higher than expected by market share. Conversely, prospective randomized trials did not identify
statistically significant differences in neurotoxicity between articaine and lidocaine. The lingual nerve
accounted for 70-79% of mandibular nerve injuries, possibly owing to its superficial location and
predominantly unifascicular architecture. Most pharmacovigilance studies did not report anesthetic volume,
symptom duration, or adequately control for surgical trauma, injection technique, and anatomical variation.
Evidence from peripheral regional anesthesia in medicine has not demonstrated a reproducible
articaine-specific neurotoxic signal. Conclusions: Current evidence does not support intrinsic, exclusive
neurotoxicity of 4% articaine. Neurosensory complications are likely multifactorial, involving anatomical
vulnerability, needle trauma, injection technique, anesthetic concentration, and administered volume.
Disproportionate reporting may reflect reporting bias, preferential use in complex inflammatory cases, and
procedure-related confounding. Prospective studies with standardized reporting of dose, volume, symptom
duration, and permanent versus temporary injury are needed.
Keywords: Carticaine. Paresthesia. Dental anesthesia. Nerve injury. Neurotoxicity. Pharmacovigilance.
RESUMEN
La anestesia local es esencial para el control del dolor en odontología; Sin embargo, las complicaciones
neurosensoriales, especialmente la parestesia que afecta a los nervios linguales e inferiores, siguen siendo
eventos adversos clínicamente significativos. Esta revisión narrativa evaluó críticamente la asociación entre
el 4% de la articaína y las alteraciones neurosensoriales en la práctica dental. Métodos: En mayo de 2026 se
realizó una búsqueda exhaustiva en PubMed, SciELO, LILACS Plus (a través de BVS) y Google Scholar. Se
combinaron vocabulario controlado y términos de texto libre para articaína/carticaína, efectos adversos de
medicamentos, parestesia, parálisis facial, formicación y disestesia. De los 320 registros identificados, 16
estudios cumplieron criterios de elegibilidad predefinidos basados en PICO tras la deduplicación y el cribado.
Se excluyeron estudios que involucraban articaína combinada con otros anestésicos, modelos animales o