Using Buffered Anesthesia and Injection Techniques to Reduce Pain and Improve Effectiveness

Good local anesthesia should work quickly and be 100% effective while causing no pain or toxicity. Although no anesthetic can provide the perfect combination of these attributes, a buffered anesthetic is beneficial when it comes to limiting toxicity because of the reduced volume needed and the substantial decrease in the time it takes to be effective when compared with more traditional means. Using buffered anesthesia allows dentists to save time, reduce patients’ pain, and increase revenue due to improved efficiency.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Discuss the history, evolution, and purposes of local anesthetics.

• Describe best practices for injections and administration of local anesthetics.

• Explain how to utilize modern technology to administer local anesthetic for optimal care and practice efficiency.

About the Author

Daniel Davidian, DDS
Co-Founder, Anutra Medical, Morrisville, North Carolina; Private Practice, Raleigh, North Carolina