Palatal anesthesia is often necessary and one of the most unpleasant things we do for patients. There are a number of ways today to reduce the stick of a palatal injection from using the “Wand” from Compudent to buffering your anesthetic from Onpharma. Even with all this new technology I still find patients hate even the idea of a palatal injection. many years ago I learned a method for obtaining palatal tissue anesthesia without the stick. I follow my routine of beginning with topical gel. I inject a quarter carpule of carbocaine plain as an infiltration. I follow this with three-quarters of a carpule of septicaine again as an infiltration. After waiting a few minutes I place the tip of the needle with the remaining septicaine into the papilla about 3mm from the tip and aimed to the palatal and begin to inject.
I watch as the tissue blanches towards the palatal. Typically if I do the papilla on each side of the tooth the anesthesia ont he palate meets in the middle and is profound. If I have to I can follow the blanching and inject directly in the palatal tissue and the patient will not feel it as the area I am injecting into is already numb. This type of palatal anesthesia is more than adequate for placing cord or even extracting the tooth.
I’ve been using this technique for many years now, I think I learned it from a great teacher at the Pankey Institute. The trick is to wait longer enough for the Papilla to get numb,otherwise the papilla injection will hurt. Don’t rush!
This is a great technique and is can really help soothe and relax the patient with such high anxiety. The last comment makes a great point don’t rush take your time and make sure that the patient is calm and continues to enjoy as much as possible the experience.
Many dentists are now using this king of procedure. Palatal anesthesia is just a no no to patients specially the kids. So dentist should do it other way without pain if they don’t want to loose patients. Great stuff!