The Association between Coffee Consumption and Local Anaesthesia Failure

Ayah Al Hanish; Dalal Almghairbi; Mohamed Almgerbe; Amina Shimu; Hala Ali; Marwa Aqeel

doi:10.54361/ajmas.2584120

Authors

Ayah Al Hanish Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Zawia, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9219-0776
Dalal Almghairbi Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Zawia, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0040-3761
Mohamed Almgerbe General Dentists at Compound Clinics Azzawia, Zawia, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9023-6145
Amina Shimu Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Zawia, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6690-4614
Hala Ali Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Zawia, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0032-1088
Marwa Aqeel Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Faculty of Medical Technology, University of Zawia, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3861-1523

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54361/ajmas.2584120

Keywords:

Coffee Consumption, Local Anaesthesia, Failure

Abstract

Some patients report inadequate numbness following local anaesthesia, requiring higher-than-normal doses. Caffeine consumption has been suggested to reduce anaesthetic effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of caffeine intake on the effectiveness of local anaesthesia during dental treatment. A cross-sectional, self-reported survey was conducted in Zawia City, Libya, between April and June 2025 among patients attending dental clinics. The questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, caffeine consumption, medical history, and perceived anaesthetic effectiveness. Validity and reliability were evaluated by specialists in anaesthesia, dentistry, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Of 150 distributed questionnaires, 94 were completed (62.7%). More than half of the participants required two or more local anaesthetic injections to achieve numbness. Higher coffee consumption and intake of other caffeinated beverages were significantly associated with reduced perception of anaesthetic numbness and increased injection requirements (p < 0.005). However, only 4.1% of participants self-reported that caffeine affected anaesthetic success. In conclusion, while most patients did not perceive caffeine as affecting local anaesthesia, higher caffeine intake was statistically associated with reduced anaesthetic effectiveness. These findings may relate to caffeine’s effects on alertness, stress, and anxiety. The single-centre design and limited sample size restrict generalizability; therefore, larger multicentre studies are recommended.