Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2022)

Without a question, the most important part of patient care in dentistry is local pain management. The advancements in local anaesthetic equipment, agents, and techniques are perhaps the most significant achievements in dentistry science, allowing the profession to make major therapeutic advances that would not have been feasible otherwise. The capacity to administer safe and effective local anaesthetic is essential in clinical oral surgery. Like any regional anesthetic technique, the use and effectiveness depends on patient considerations, the extent and duration of the procedure, choice of drug and technique, and the skill and experience of the practitioner. Every clinician should be aware of his or her skill limitations, and the limitations of the contemplated technique and agent. The administration of local anesthetics is often complicated by the existence of multifactorial psychological considerations associated with the delivery of dental care. It is imperative for health care professionals to understand and appreciate these issues to properly implement perioperative behavioral or pharmacologic management strategies to reduce fear and anxiety to acceptable levels.