Local anesthesia forms the backbone of pain control in contemporary dental practice, and pain control in dentistry has undergone a renewal of interest. This program will compare dental local anesthetics and their optimal clinical uses. Local anesthetics are the safest and most effective drugs for periprocedural and postprocedural pain control and management – when used properly. We will examine the potential for adverse events developing during the use of local anesthetics and review current research investigating improvements in dental pain control.

Patients do not want to experience pain during their dental treatment. Fortunately, local anesthesia forms the backbone of pain control techniques in dentistry. Local anesthetics are the safest and most effective drugs for the prevention and management of pain. Yet, on occasion, achieving profound anesthesia painlessly can be challenging. In this program we will discuss a means to making dental local anesthetic injections both more effective and more comfortable – the new A, B, C’s of dental pain control. Articaine; Buffering (the local anesthetic ‘on switch’); and Cold testing to ensure pulpal anesthesia.

Medical emergencies can, and do, happen in the practice of dentistry. It is estimated that a medical emergency will occur every 2 to 4 years in a dental practice. Dr. Malamed reviews the important steps involved in preparing the dental office and staff to promptly recognize and effectively manage potentially life-threatening situations. Discussion of the prevention, recognition and management of common medical emergencies will follow, including  syncope, seizures, and respiratory distress. This program also covers management of allergy and cardiovascular emergencies.

The management of fear and pain are of paramount importance for all dental patients...especially young children. Gain a better understanding of the use of sedation and the administration of local anesthesia to children. The sedation discussion will review the oral, inhalation (N2O-O2), and parenteral routes of administration, including drugs and techniques. We will evaluate pain control through a review of the available local anesthetic formulations employed for the pediatric population. Drugs will be compared, and techniques and complications associated with both sedation and local anesthesia will be reviewed. 

The traditional mandibular nerve block has one of the lowest success rates of major nerve blocks administered in the human body. Is it even necessary to continue to administer this technique? Many alternative approaches have been developed to improve success. This course will examine these alternative techniques and their respective success rates. In addition, it will discuss the efficacy of Articaine HCl with mandibular infiltration, and the consideration for buffering to enhance depth of anesthesia and efficiency of onset.