Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice of Different Nerve Blocks for Mandibular Molar Root Canal Treatment

ABSTRACT

Root canal treatment is the most commonly performed procedure in dentistry in the field of endodontics. Prior to the procedure local anaesthesia is administered to ensure painless pulp extirpation and cleaning. There are various methods in which this is done by different practitioners, some prefer to administer a nerve block while a few only use an infiltration, and some use both. We wanted to assess the knowledge, awareness, and practice, regarding appropriate anaesthesia to be used while performing root canal therapy for mandibular molar, among practitioners and post graduate students in India. METHODSA total of 80 specialists volunteered to participate in the study. A simple online questionnaire with 10 relevant questions was framed and circulated to the participants. Responses that were received were verified and analysed using SPSS. RESULTS50 % of the respondents administered a classical inferior alveolar nerve block involving the IAN, lingual and long buccal nerve. 26 % of the respondents anesthetised the inferior alveolar nerve and lingual nerve and 17 % anesthetised the inferior alveolar nerve and long buccal nerve. CONCLUSIONSAnaesthesia of IAN alone should suffice during RCT of the mandibular molars. However, there is no adequate information and knowledge regarding the technique and the amount of local anaesthetic to be delivered for root canal therapy for mandibular molars thus inflicting further pain to the patient.