Dental Nerve Blocks for Zen Dental Procedures

Program Title:  Dental Nerve Blocks for Zen Anesthesia

Program Description:

This lecture will explore the different site and drug choices to perform safe dental nerve blocks in dogs and cats by identifying risk factors, adverse effects, and contraindications. We will familiarize attendees with anatomy of the dog and cat skull with regard to innervation of the face and jaw.  We will define the indications for nerve blocks and appropriate site choices with evidence based references for good decision-making. The ultimate goal is to provide multimodal pain relief and balanced anesthesia for dental procedures.

Program Agenda:

1. Why perform blocks?
   1. Anesthetic plane
   2. How blocks help balance anesthesia
2. Iatrogenic injury
3. Anatomy
   1. Basic facial/oral nerves
   2. Affected Areas
4. Drugs and doses
   1. Lidocaine
   2. Bupivacaine
   3. Nocita
5. Site Choices/Techniques
   1. Infraorbital
   2. Caudal maxillary (percutaneous vs modified infraorbital)
   3. Caudal mandibular
   4. Mental
6. Recoveries

Learning Objectives:

1. Familiarize attendees with anatomy of the dog and cat skull with regard to innervation of the face and jaw.
2. Define the indications for nerve blocks and appropriate site choice to provide multimodal pain relief in dentistry.
3. Establish drug choices, onset, duration of action, and adverse effects of each drug.
4. Demonstrate different approaches and techniques based on species, skull type, and indications.
5. Identify risk factors, adverse effects, and contraindications of performing nerve blocks.