Local Anesthesia in Dentistry 2024

Dental local anesthesia is the main method used to control pain during dental treatments and is essential to everyday clinical practice. Its advantages and high safety profile make it preferable to sedation and general anesthesia. Because it is usually the first procedure performed, inadequate anesthesia can greatly complicate treatment.

Proper use of local anesthesia is especially important because fear of injections is a major reason patients avoid dental care. This is even more critical in children, as painful or traumatic dental experiences in childhood can lead to long-term dental anxiety in adulthood.

This book focuses mainly on intraoral anesthesia techniques, as extraoral approaches play a minimal role in modern dentistry. It provides practical, quantitative data drawn from multiple studies to guide dentists in daily practice. Additional detailed and practical information is included in annexes to maintain clarity and readability.

The illustrations are designed to clarify concepts rather than provide strict anatomical detail, following the educational philosophy of Frank H. Netter. The book aims to offer clear criteria and practical guidelines, recognizing that having guidance is better than having none.

Finally, the authors express gratitude to researchers, educators, institutions, libraries, students, and professionals whose contributions have advanced dental local anesthesia and improved pain control for millions of patients worldwide.