Local Anaesthesia
The reversible loss of sensation in a specific area of the oral cavity, achieved by injection of an anaesthetic agent, to enable pain-free dental treatment.
Full Definition
Local anaesthesia (LA) in dentistry involves the administration of agents such as lidocaine, articaine, or prilocaine—often with a vasoconstrictor such as epinephrine—to temporarily block nerve conduction in a targeted area. Common techniques include inferior alveolar nerve block, infiltration, and intraligamentary injection. Editors must use the British spelling 'anaesthesia' (not 'anesthesia') in UK clinical documents, and must distinguish between 'local anaesthesia', 'sedation', and 'general anaesthesia', which are separate clinical and regulatory categories. The abbreviation 'LA' is standard in dental clinical notes. Correct terminology is critical in consent forms and medico-legal records.
Usage
Usage note: UK dental documents use 'anaesthesia' (British spelling). The abbreviation 'LA' is acceptable in clinical notes but should be spelled out in patient-facing and formal documents.
In Context
- "Local anaesthesia was administered via inferior alveolar nerve block prior to surgical extraction of LR8." — Clinical notes
- "Patient reported paraesthesia persisting 48 hours post local anaesthesia injection." — Adverse event report