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Failure to obtain adequate anaesthesia associated with a bifid mandibular canal: a case report
Author(s) -
Lew K.,
Townsend G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2006.tb00406.x
Subject(s) - medicine , inferior alveolar nerve , mandibular canal , mandible (arthropod mouthpart) , mandibular nerve , general anaesthesia , dentistry , dental practice , general anaesthetic , orthodontics , anesthesia , molar , botany , biology , genus
The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block is the most common method for obtaining mandibular anaesthesia in dental practice but it is estimated to have a success rate of only 80 to 85 per cent. Causes of failure include problems with operator technique and anatomical variation between individuals. This case report involves a patient who received IAN blocks on two separate occasions that resulted in only partial anaesthesia of the ipsilateral side of the mandible. Radiographic assessment disclosed the presence of bifid mandibular canals that were present bilaterally and that may have affected the outcomes of the local anaesthetic procedures. Previous studies of bifid mandibular canals are reviewed and suggestions provided that should enable clinicians to differentially diagnose, and then manage, cases where IAN blocks result in inadequate mandibular anaesthesia.