Oral Surgery & Extractions Flashcards

What is the correct management of a patient with suspected Ludwig's angina?

Answer: Immediate hospital admission, IV antibiotics, airway management, and surgical drainage

Ludwig's angina is a life-threatening spreading cellulitis of the floor of the mouth; immediate hospitalisation, IV antibiotics, and airway protection are mandatory.

Which nerve is at risk of damage during extraction of a lower premolar?

Answer: Mental nerve

The mental nerve emerges from the mental foramen near the apices of the lower premolars and is at risk during surgical procedures or overzealous elevation in this region.

What is the maximum recommended dose of lidocaine with adrenaline for a 70 kg adult in the UK?

Answer: 500 mg (7 mg/kg)

The maximum safe dose of lidocaine with adrenaline is 7 mg/kg, equating to approximately 500 mg (about 14 cartridges of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 adrenaline) for a 70 kg adult.

In the WHARFE assessment for lower third molar surgery difficulty, what does the 'H' stand for?

Answer: Height of mandibular ramus

In the WHARFE index, 'H' represents the Height of the mandibular ramus, which affects the difficulty of surgical access to the third molar.

What is the first-line management for a patient presenting with a displaced tooth following dentoalveolar trauma?

Answer: Reimplant immediately if avulsed, or reposition and splint if luxated

Immediate reimplantation of avulsed teeth (or repositioning of luxated teeth) and splinting with a semi-rigid splint offers the best prognosis for tooth survival.

Which condition contraindicates the use of adrenaline-containing local anaesthetic in a dental patient?

Answer: Uncontrolled phaeochromocytoma

Phaeochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumour; exogenous adrenaline can trigger a hypertensive crisis, making it an absolute contraindication.