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Anesthesia · single question

A child bit his lip after an extraction under local anesthesia. What precaution should be taken for the next extraction?

  1. Avoid local anesthesia entirely
  2. Use 3% mepivacaine (no vasoconstrictor) for a shorter duration of soft tissue anesthesia
  3. Double the anesthetic volume for a more profound block
  4. Use 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Use 3% mepivacaine (no vasoconstrictor) for a shorter duration of soft tissue anesthesia

  • A. Withholding anesthesia is neither humane nor practical.
  • B. Correct. Plain 3% mepivacaine gives adequate pulpal anesthesia with markedly shorter soft-tissue numbness, reducing the window in which self-inflicted lip trauma occurs. Phentolamine mesylate can also reverse soft tissue anesthesia.
  • C. More anesthetic prolongs numbness and increases the risk of trauma.
  • D. Adding a vasoconstrictor prolongs soft-tissue anesthesia and increases the risk.

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