Inferior Dental Blocks Versus Infiltration Dentistry: Is it time for change?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Inferior Dental Blocks Versus Infiltration Dentistry

T2 - Is it time for change?

AU - Renton, Tara Frances

PY - 2019/3

Y1 - 2019/3

N2 - Dentistry is unique in that high volume surgery is undertaken efficiently on conscious patients, an anathema to most other surgical specialties who predominantly operate on unconscious patients. Local anaesthesia provides an efficient block to nociceptive pain (the first stage of the pain pathway) but only addresses one small part of the pain experience. Currently the inferior dental block (IDB) is the ‘go to’ standard for dental LA for mandibular dentistry despite its significant shortcomings. Unfortunately, as creatures of habit clinicians continue to practise what is taught at dental school, namely IDBs, when evolving more patient-safe practice takes time to be taken up by the workforce.

AB - Dentistry is unique in that high volume surgery is undertaken efficiently on conscious patients, an anathema to most other surgical specialties who predominantly operate on unconscious patients. Local anaesthesia provides an efficient block to nociceptive pain (the first stage of the pain pathway) but only addresses one small part of the pain experience. Currently the inferior dental block (IDB) is the ‘go to’ standard for dental LA for mandibular dentistry despite its significant shortcomings. Unfortunately, as creatures of habit clinicians continue to practise what is taught at dental school, namely IDBs, when evolving more patient-safe practice takes time to be taken up by the workforce.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063642264&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.12968/denu.2019.46.3.204

DO - 10.12968/denu.2019.46.3.204

M3 - Review article

SN - 0305-5000

VL - 46

SP - 204

EP - 218

JO - Dental Update

JF - Dental Update

IS - 3

ER -