DANB Pharmacology and Pain Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which local anesthetic is most commonly used in dental practice?
- Mepivacaine
- Lidocaine (Correct answer)
- Bupivacaine
- Prilocaine
Correct answer: Lidocaine
Lidocaine 2% is the most widely used local anesthetic in dentistry due to its effectiveness, rapid onset, and well-established safety profile.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a vasoconstrictor added to local anesthetic solutions?
- To increase the rate of drug absorption into the bloodstream
- To prolong the duration of anesthesia and reduce systemic toxicity (Correct answer)
- To increase the patient's blood pressure during treatment
- To raise the pH of the anesthetic solution
Correct answer: To prolong the duration of anesthesia and reduce systemic toxicity
Vasoconstrictors like epinephrine constrict blood vessels, keeping the anesthetic localized longer and reducing systemic absorption, which lowers toxicity risk.
Question 3: Which injection technique anesthetizes the teeth and soft tissue of an entire mandibular quadrant?
- Infiltration injection
- Field block
- Inferior alveolar nerve block (Correct answer)
- Intraosseous injection
Correct answer: Inferior alveolar nerve block
The inferior alveolar nerve block targets the inferior alveolar nerve, providing profound anesthesia to the teeth, bone, and soft tissues of an entire mandibular quadrant.
Question 4: Topical anesthetics are applied before injections primarily to:
- Sterilize the injection site
- Numb surface tissue and reduce injection discomfort (Correct answer)
- Increase the effectiveness of the injected local anesthetic
- Prevent allergic reactions to the anesthetic
Correct answer: Numb surface tissue and reduce injection discomfort
Topical anesthetics numb the superficial mucosal tissue before the injection, reducing the discomfort the patient experiences from needle penetration.
Question 5: What concentration of epinephrine is most commonly found in standard dental local anesthetic cartridges?
- 1:10,000
- 1:50,000
- 1:100,000 (Correct answer)
- 1:200,000
Correct answer: 1:100,000
The 1:100,000 concentration of epinephrine is standard in most dental anesthetic carpules, providing effective vasoconstriction while minimizing cardiovascular side effects.
Question 6: Which of the following is an early sign of local anesthetic toxicity?
- Increased salivation
- Numbness confined to the injection site
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) (Correct answer)
- Elevated blood pressure
Correct answer: Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Tinnitus is an early sign of local anesthetic toxicity, reflecting central nervous system stimulation before more serious symptoms like convulsions develop.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of nitrous oxide in dentistry?
- To provide local anesthesia to teeth
- To achieve conscious sedation and reduce patient anxiety (Correct answer)
- To induce general anesthesia for surgical procedures
- To serve as antibiotic prophylaxis before procedures
Correct answer: To achieve conscious sedation and reduce patient anxiety
Nitrous oxide is used as an inhalation agent for conscious sedation, reducing anxiety and increasing pain threshold while the patient remains awake and responsive.
DANB Pharmacology and Pain Management 2
Which local anesthetic is most commonly used in dental practice?