Local Anesthesia in Dentistry and Considerations for Mandibular Anesthetic Success

Local Anesthesia in Dentistry and Considerations for Mandibular Anesthetic Success is organized by Dentaltown, L.L.C.

Released: 7/24/2013
Expiration Date: 6/30/2028

Overview:
Perhaps no other advancement has altered the provision of dentistry than the development of safe and effective local anesthesia. Dental practitioners and patients have benefited from increasingly safe and effective agents for the control of surgical pain.

In part one of the course, the history of local anesthetics is reviewed with a focus on the reasons why early solutions were inadequate, and what prompted the search for better agents. Four important pharmacological principles are discussed and the clinical relevance is described: pKa, lipid solubility, protein binding, and vasodilatory activity. The maximum dosages and indications for currently available local anesthetic formulations are presented. Additional topics discussed are the safety of local anesthetics during pregnancy and lactation, the signs and symptoms of local anesthetic overdose, and strategies for management.

In part two of the course, considerations for conventional inferior alveolar nerve block are discussed. Many factors can influence the success or failure of the IANB, and achieving consistent positive outcomes can be challenging. By reviewing local factors such as pH/pka, the influence of fear and anxiety, and anatomic landmarks and variability, practitioners can gain confidence in their clinical knowledge and technique.

Educational Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to achieve the following:

• Understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of currently available local anesthetic formulations
• Be capable of calculating maximum doses of currently available local anesthetic formulations
• Understand the signs and symptoms of local anesthetic overdose
• Understand which local anesthetics are safest to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Better appreciate anatomy of the pterygomandibular space and how it impacts mandibular anesthesia success