A comparative study of direct mandibular nerve block and the Akinosi technique. (73/480)

A study is made of 56 patients subjected to lower molar extraction, comparing the efficacy of the Akinosi technique as an alternative to direct or conventional mandibular nerve block in two groups of 28 subjects each. The parameters evaluated were pain in response to puncture, percentage positive aspiration, latency, pain during the intervention and complications. Patient pain in response to puncture was comparatively less intense and frequent with the Akinosi technique. The latency to anesthesia was briefer with conventional mandibular block than with the Akinosi technique (2.9 versus 3.8 minutes). Pain during the intervention and the duration of the anesthetic effect were similar for both techniques. The patients anesthetized with the Akinosi technique required more buccal nerve reinforcement infiltrations to complete the procedure. The anesthetic failure rates were 10.7% and 17.8% for the conventional and Akinosi technique, respectively. It is concluded that while the Akinosi technique can be used to extract lower molars, direct mandibular block offers superior anesthetic performance.  (+info)

Intravenous procedural sedation: an alternative to general anesthesia in the treatment of early childhood caries. (74/480)

Providing comprehensive dental treatment for preschool children with early childhood caries (ECC) is probably the greatest challenge facing most dentists; many elect to hospitalize a child with ECC and provide treatment under general anesthesia. However, as waiting lists for hospital admission are long, ECC continues to progress and can cause pain or acute infection. Hospital treatment also results in substantial costs beyond those for dental treatment. This paper describes a cost-effective intravenous sedation program being used in a pediatric dental practice in Kelowna, British Columbia. The program offers an alternative to general anesthesia that allows qualified dentists to provide comprehensive dental treatment to children with ECC safely and efficiently in the private practice setting.  (+info)

Should a mucoadhesive patch (DentiPatch) be used for gingival anesthesia in children? (75/480)

A local anesthetic-impregnated mucosal adhesive patch (DentiPatch) was compared with topical anesthetic (Hurricaine Dry Handle Swab) for gingival anesthesia before rubber dam clamp placement in children. Twenty-eight children needing sealants on their posterior teeth were enrolled in this study. Topical anesthesia was provided using either the mucoadhesive patch (20% lidocaine) or topical anesthetic (20% benzocaine). Subjects were randomized using a split mouth model. Either the patch or topical anesthetic was applied to the gingiva for 5 minutes or 1 minute, respectively. Subjects used a visual analog scale to describe their pain during the procedure. Linear regression and mixed linear models were used for data analysis. The visual analog scale results (pain scores) showed no significant difference between treatments. The mean per-child patch-sticking fraction was 29.7%. Patch adherence to oral mucosa increased with age in girls (P = .0045), but not in boys. The DentiPatch is as effective as, although not superior to, the Hurricaine Dry Handle Swab for gingival anesthesia before rubber dam clamp placement in children. These study results would not support the use of the DentiPatch for gingival anesthesia in children because of poor adherence to oral mucosa and the extra time necessary to apply and retain the device.  (+info)

A comparison study between ketamine and ketamine-promethazine combination for oral sedation in pediatric dental patients. (76/480)

This study compared the incidence of vomiting and the sedative effectiveness of ketamine to a ketamine-prornethazine combination in pediatric dental patients. Twenty-two patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists' classification I physical status who were between the ages of 21 and 43 months were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group received 10 mg/kg of ketamine orally, whereas the experimental group received 10 mg/kg of ketamine and 1.1 mg/kg of promethazine orally. Nitrous oxide in oxygen was supplemented between 35 and 50%. Each patient received 1 or 2 quadrants of restoration by one operator. Heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were monitored and recorded during the treatment. Crying, alertness, movement, and overall general behavior were rated using the scale by Houpt et al. A dentist-anesthesiologist conducted the vital sign monitoring and behavioral assessment. Ketamine combined with promethazine eliminated the incidence of vomiting. A 2 x 2 chi-square contingency table showed a statistical difference between the 2 groups at P < .05 (control group, 27%; experimental group, 0%). Ketamine alone yielded better sedations than the combined agents as shown by the Mann-Whitney U statistical analysis (P < .05). Ketamine and a ketamine-promethazine combination are effective in the sedation of pediatric dental patients.  (+info)

Clinical recovery time from conscious sedation for dental outpatients. (77/480)

For dental outpatients undergoing conscious sedation, recovery from sedation must be sufficient to allow safe discharge home, and many researchers have defined "recovery time" as the time until the patient was permitted to return home after the end of dental treatment. But it is frequently observed that patients remain in the clinic after receiving permission to go home. The present study investigated "clinical recovery time," which is defined as the time until discharge from the clinic after a dental procedure. We analyzed data from 61 outpatients who had received dental treatment under conscious sedation at the Hiroshima University Dental Hospital between January 1998 and December 2000 (nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation [n = 35], intravenous sedation with midazolam [n = 10], intravenous sedation with propofol [n = 16]). We found that the median clinical recovery time was 40 minutes after nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation, 80 minutes after midazolam sedation, and 52 minutes after propofol sedation. The clinical recovery time was about twice as long as the recovery time described in previous studies. In a comparison of the sedation methods, clinical recovery time differed (P = .0008), being longer in the midazolam sedation group than in the nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation group (P = .018). These results suggest the need for changes in treatment planning for dental outpatients undergoing conscious sedation.  (+info)

Paradoxical reactions to benzodiazepines in intravenous sedation: a report of 2 cases and review of the literature. (78/480)

Paradoxical reactions to benzodiazepines have been thoroughly reported since the introduction of this type of drug. The mechanism of benzodiazepine action is through the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors. Properties of benzodiazepine include sedation, anxiolysis, amnesia, anticonvulsion, and muscle relaxation. Unfortunately, adverse paradoxical reactions can be stimulated by benzodiazepines and are difficult to predict and diagnose. Two cases of paradoxical reactions associated with the use of intravenous midazolam are presented, and the management of this complication and its different etiologies are reviewed. The relationship of the paradoxical reaction to alteration of the cholinergic homeostasis, serotonin levels, the role of genetics, and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor configuration is discussed.  (+info)

Child-management techniques. Are there differences in the way female and male pediatric dentists in Israel practice? (79/480)

The purpose of this study was to assess differences in the management techniques used by Israeli female and male pediatric dentists. All 112 participants of the meeting of the Israeli Society of Dentistry for Children that was held in February 1999 received a questionnaire which sought information regarding age, sex, behavioral and pharmacological methods used to treat children, having a course in nitrous oxide, general anesthesia, and feelings towards pediatric patients. No differences between female and male dentists were found regarding most management techniques. The majority of dentists used tell-show-do, and gave presents at the end of the appointments. Hypnosis was the least used technique. Papoose board was more prevalent among male dentists than among female dentists. Most dentists reported having the parents present during treatment, and more male dentists used their assistance when restraint was needed. General anesthesia was significantly more prevalent among males than among females (p = 0.01). One-third of the dentists reported feeling aggression toward the pediatric patient. Although not statistically significant, more female dentists reported about feeling aggression than male dentists. Most dentists felt authority towards the pediatric patient. Our findings imply that female and male dentists use similar management techniques when treating children.  (+info)

Long-acting local anesthetics in dentistry. (80/480)

Long-acting local anesthetics have proved to be effective for the suppression of both intraoperative and postoperative pain. They are useful for lengthy dental treatments and for prevention of severe pain following many types of surgical procedures. Although the currently available long-acting local anesthetics for dentistry have minimal side effects in the doses usually employed, there are potential problems. Bupivacaine, for example, can cause significant cardiac depressant and dysrhythmogenic responses. Etidocaine has less pronounced effects on the cardiovascular system, but its use may be associated with inadequate control of intraoperative bleeding. A new long-acting local anesthetic, ropivacaine, appears to offer advantages over either of the currently used long-acting agents.  (+info)