LA
Also written as: LA — Local Anaesthesia
Standard abbreviation for 'local anaesthesia' or 'local anaesthetic' as used in UK dental clinical notes and records.
Full Definition
LA is the universally accepted shorthand in UK dental practice for local anaesthesia or local anaesthetic. It appears in clinical notes to document that a patient received anaesthetic injections prior to or during treatment. Editors must be alert to the context in which 'LA' appears, as it can occasionally refer to 'left anterior' in radiographic notation, creating potential ambiguity. In dental records, LA should always be expanded on first use in formal reports. The specific agent, concentration, dose, and delivery site should ideally accompany the abbreviation in clinical documentation.
Usage
Usage note: Expand on first use in formal reports. Confirm context—'LA' in radiographic descriptions may mean 'left anterior', not local anaesthesia.
In Context
- "2 cartridges of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 adrenaline given as LA prior to restoration of UR6." — Clinical notes
- "Consent obtained for LA; patient declined sedation." — Consent documentation