Which anesthetic falls under pregnancy risk category B?

Articaine is considered to fall under the pregnancy risk category B, indicating that animal reproduction studies have not demonstrated a risk to the fetus, but there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. This categorization means that while data in humans is limited, the substance has not shown harmful effects in animal studies, suggesting a potentially safer profile for use during pregnancy compared to drugs categorized in higher risk groups.

Lidocaine, while commonly used and generally safe, is classified as category B as well, meaning both it and articaine have a similar profile in terms of risk to pregnancy. However, articaine is more recently categorized, which may have led to confusion regarding its safety compared to lidocaine.

Bupivacaine and Mepivacaine, on the other hand, are typically categorized differently, often reflecting more caution around their use during pregnancy due to potential risks identified in studies, thus they do not meet the criteria for category B.