• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 2021

During the perioperative period, anesthesiologists frequently observe cardiac tachyarrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia is very rare in non-cardiac surgeries. However, it can be fatal when it occurs. Therefore, anesthesiologists should be watchful so as to not to miss ventricular tachycardia and take the appropriate steps to manage it promptly. We present a case, with a review of related literature, in which a non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was observed in a patient who visited the hospital for dental treatment.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2010

This article discusses the issues of benefit and risk associated with outpatient general anesthesia and deep sedation for the special need dental patients. The purpose of administering anesthesia for patients with special needs is to provide effect dental treatment. But there are many complications such as sore throat, nausea and vomiting, airway trauma, airway obstruction and hypoxic brain damages, etc. In order to decrease incidence of complication, before general anesthesia meticulous patient evaluation is much important. But, there are a number of factors that make it difficult to accurately assess the anesthetic risk for many people with special needs. These include limited medical workups, uncooperative behavior, and difficulties in postoperative cares, etc. But Judging from several years experience of many contries, it appears that the incidence of mortalities for people with special needs in dental setting is minimal and the incidence of morbidity is limited. In the long run, the delivery of general anesthesia and deep sedation for people with special needs can be considered a very safe and successful procedure.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2021

Many approaches to local anesthesia have been studied in dentistry. In this study, we introduce a new local anesthetic method, "Point-Inject Technique (PIT)", and compare it with traditional injection techniques. The PIT method utilizes both the vasoconstrictive and antinociceptive properties of local anesthetics as well as the application of controlled pressure during injection, reducing the time to complete anesthesia. Fifty patients were selected as the experimental group who were anesthetized using PIT, and the other 50 patients were selected as the control group using the direct injection method with a carpool syringe. The PIT group received 0.25 cartridges of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. The control group received 1.5~2 cartridges of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. Both groups were asked to mark the intensity of the pain caused by anesthesia using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The average time to recover from anesthesia was 40 minutes in the experimental group and 90 minutes in the control group. Additionally, 96% of the experimental group reported feeling no pain, while 78% of the control group reported having some form of pain during injection. The PIT method reduced both the reported pain scores of patients as well as time to recover from local anesthesia than the widely-used syringe injection method.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.337-346
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• 2023

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of local anesthesia (LA) on postoperative pain and hemostasis after dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia (DRGA) in pediatric patients. Methods: A total of 43 patients, aged 3-7 years and rated ASA I or II, who had a definitely negative rating on Frankel's behavior rating scale, were included in this two-arm, parallel-design, single-blinded, randomized, controlled study. The patients were allocated equally into two main groups receiving both restorative treatments and tooth extractions. Two pain scales and one bleeding scale were used. In Group A, the treatment was done with LA, and in Group B, the treatment was done without LA. Results: The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the pain scores between the groups. It also revealed significant differences in the bleeding scores between the groups but no significant differences in the duration of bleeding. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the use of LA in pediatric dental patients undergoing DRGA had no effects on postoperative pain reduction or bleeding duration after teeth extraction. We also observed that the use of LA had an impact on the reduction in the bleeding scores in pediatric dental patients undergoing DRGA.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.367-373
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• 2018

Background: Fear of local anesthesia (LA) is a significant impediment to dental care as many patients delay or avoid treatment to avert pain. Computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system (CCLAD), with constant and controlled rate of flow, present a painless alternative. The present study aimed to compare anxiety and pain perceived with conventional and computerized systems, for different stages of anesthesia delivery when administering various nerve blocks. Methods: One hundred patients requiring bilateral LA participated in the study. One side was anesthetized using one system and the contralateral side was anesthetized using the other, in two separate appointments. Patients assigned anxiety scores on a 5-point scale and used the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain determination at needle insertion, during delivery of anesthetic solution, immediately after injection, and at the end of the periodontal procedure. Each patient's preference for the delivery system of future injections was also recorded. Results: Patients reported significantly lower anxiety levels with CCLAD compared to the syringe. Significantly lower mean VAS scores for anesthesia deposition, pain immediately after, and at the end of the periodontal procedure were also noted. However, pain at needle insertion was comparable between the two systems, with no statistical significance. Overall, 64.4% patients preferred CCLAD for future anesthesia. Conclusion: Lower pain perceived with CCLAD and higher preference for the system suggest that CCLAD should replace conventional syringes to allow pain-free dental treatment.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.317-320
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• 2016

A 47-year-old woman was referred for surgical treatment of osteomyelitis of the mandible. She had already undergone three previous surgeries. Pre-anesthetic airway evaluation predicted a difficult airway, due to the thin, retro-positioned mandible, tongue, and atrophic changes in the lips and soft tissue. We inserted packing gauzes in the buccal mucosa for easier mask fitting and ventilation. During direct laryngoscopic intubation with a nasotracheal tube (NTT), fracture of a thin mandible can easily occur. Therefore, we used a fiberoptic bronchoscope to insert the NTT. After surgery, we performed a tongue-tie to protect against airway obstruction caused by the backward movement of the tongue during recovery. The patient recovered without any complications. We determined the status of the patient precisely and consequently performed thorough preparations for the surgery, allowing the patient to be anesthetized safely and recover after surgery. Careful assessment of the patient and airway prior to surgery is necessary.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.209-212
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• 2016

Lidocaine, a local anesthetic commonly used in dental treatments, is capable of causing allergies or adverse effects similar to allergic reactions. However, the frequency of such occurrences in actual clinical settings is very rare, and even clinical tests on patients with known allergies to local anesthetics may often show negative results. When adverse effects, such as allergy to lidocaine, are involved, patients can be treated by testing other local anesthetics and choosing a local anesthetic without any adverse effects, or by performing dental treatment under general anesthesia in cases in which no local anesthetic without adverse effects is available. Along with a literature review, the authors of the present study report on two cases of patients who tested positive on allergy skin tests for lidocaine and bupivacaine and subsequently underwent successful dental treatments with either general anesthesia or a different local anesthetic.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.139-141
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• 2017

Chromosome 6p duplication is very rare and clinically characterized by short stature, mental retardation, and congenital heart diseases. Patients with mental retardation may present with poor oral health conditions. Dental treatment may need to be performed under general anesthesia in such patients. Our case report deals with induction of general anesthesia to a patient with chromosome 6p duplication, for dental treatment. The selection of a nasotracheal tube of an appropriate size, because of the patient's short stature, was especially important for airway management. In the present case, the patient with chromosome 6p duplication was intubated with a nasotracheal tube, which was not age-matched but adapted to the height and physique of the patient.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2023

Background: A high incidence (40-73%) of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has been reported following orthognathic surgery, and various risk factors have been associated with it. Identifying PONV risk factors based on initial onset time will help establish preventive measures. This study aimed to identify factors that are significantly related to PONV based on the initial onset time after orthognathic surgery. Methods: This study included 590 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors that are significantly related to PONV. The objective variables were classified into three categories: no PONV, early PONV (initial onset time: 0-2 h after anesthesia), and late PONV (initial onset time: 2-24 h after anesthesia). The explanatory variables included relevant risk factors for PONV, as considered in previous studies. Results: Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol was a significant depressant factor for early PONV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.340, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.209-0.555) and late PONV (aOR = 0.535, 95% CI = 0.352-0.814). The administration of a combination of intraoperative antiemetics (vs. no administration) significantly reduced the risk of early PONV (aOR = 0.464, 95% CI = 0.230-0.961). Female sex and young age were significant risk factors for late PONV (aOR = 1.492, 95% CI = 1.170-1.925 and unit aOR = 1.033, 95% CI = 1.010-1.057, respectively). Conclusion: We identified factors that are significantly related to PONV based on the initial onset time after orthognathic surgery. Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol significantly reduced the risk of PONV not only in the early period (0-2 h after anesthesia) but also in the late period (2-24 h after anesthesia).

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2023

Background: Local anesthesia has been reliably used to control pain during dental procedures and is important in pediatric dentistry. However, children occasionally complain of prolonged numbness after dental treatment, leading to several problems. Studies conducted to reverse the effect of local anesthesia using phentolamine mesylate and photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) are encouraging but limited. PBM is a type of light therapy that utilizes visible and near-infrared non-ionizing electromagnetic spectral light sources. Hence, this study used this modality to compare the reversal of local anesthesia at two different wavelengths. This study compared the effect of PBM at 660 and 810 nm wavelengths on the reversal of soft tissue local anesthesia using a diode LASER in pediatric dentistry. Method: Informed consent and assent were obtained, and the participants were then divided randomly into three groups of 20 children each: control group-without LASER irradiation, LASER irradiation at 660 nm, and LASER irradiation at 810 nm. Sixty children aged 4-8 years with deciduous mandibular molars indicated for pulp therapy were administered an inferior alveolar nerve block. After 45 min of injection, a duration that was similar to the approximate duration of treatment, they were exposed to 660- and 810-nm LASER irradiation according to their groups until reversal of local anesthesia was achieved. The control group did not undergo LASER irradiation. The reversal of the soft tissue local anesthetic effect was evaluated using palpation and pin prick tests every 15 min, and the LASER irradiation cycle continued until reversal of the soft tissue local anesthesia was achieved. Results: A significant reduction of 55.5 min (27.6%) in the mean soft tissue local anesthesia reversal time was observed after the application of 810 nm wavelength PBM and 69 min (34.7%) after 660 nm wavelength LASER irradiation. Conclusion: PBM with a 660 nm wavelength was more effective in reducing the mean soft tissue local anesthesia reversal duration, and thus can be used as a reversal agent for soft tissue local anesthesia in pediatric dentistry.