(TC24) A Novel Technique for Intrapulpal Anesthesia

Abstract: Obtaining profound anesthesia is an essential part of endodontic practice. Supplemental anesthetic techniques are often necessary to obtain pulpal anesthesia in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis cases. Intrapulpal anesthesia is one of the supplementary techniques available to the clinician. Intrapulpal anesthesia works through backpressure, but it can be difficult to create an ideal portal of entry for the anesthetic needle with a bur to create sufficient backpressure. Hence, the purpose of this table clinic is to introduce a novel technique for administering intrapulpal anesthesia effectively using an intraosseous anesthetic delivery system. This technique can be utilized when other anesthetic techniques have already been tried, but the patient still reports sensitivity or pain during initial access to the pulp. The slow-speed handpiece-driven perforator of an intraosseous delivery system is used to drill a small hole into the roof of the pulp chamber. This creates the ideal portal size for the anesthetic solution to be delivered into the chamber with sufficient backpressure. This technique can also be applied in cases that have no tissue in the chamber but vital tissue in the canals. The perforator can be inserted into the canal to create an ideal sized portal so that the injector needle can be placed to obtain backpressure and subsequent pulpal anesthesia. This table clinic gives the clinician a novel alternative, and a more predictable method for administering intrapulpal anesthesia while using techniques they are familiar with and equipment that is readily available.