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Techniques for effective local anaesthetic administration for the paediatric patient

British Dental Journal volume 229, pages 779–785 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Local anaesthesia forms the backbone of pain control techniques in dentistry and has a major role in dentistry for children and adults alike. Dental anxiety is still prevalent among children, causing delays in seeking dental care and leading to increased rates in childhood caries, resulting in increased hospital admissions for dental care under general anaesthesia. There is a constant search for more comfortable means of achieving local anaesthesia to provide a more positive experience for paediatric patients when seeking dental treatment. This article aims to provide an overview of local anaesthetic techniques used in paediatric dentistry, as well as methods utilised to make local anaesthetic administration more comfortable and how to increase acceptability.

Key points

  • Discusses the correct doses for commonly used local anaesthetics.

  • Provides an overview of interventions used to facilitate pain-free local anaesthetic administration and acceptability of local anaesthetic in a paediatric patient.

  • Describes techniques for local anaesthetic administration for the paediatric patient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, 47–49 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6DG, UK

    Sahar T. Aghababaie & Joana Monteiro

  2. Paediatric Oral Health and Orthodontics, University Centre of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Postfach, Basel, 4001, Switzerland

    Eirini Stratigaki

  3. Paediatric Dentistry, UCL, 256 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1 X8LD, UK

    Paul F. Ashley

Authors
  1. Sahar T. Aghababaie
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  2. Joana Monteiro
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  3. Eirini Stratigaki
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  4. Paul F. Ashley
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Correspondence to Sahar T. Aghababaie.

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Aghababaie, S., Monteiro, J., Stratigaki, E. et al. Techniques for effective local anaesthetic administration for the paediatric patient. Br Dent J 229, 779–785 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2453-2

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