Dental clinics of North America
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True allergic reactions to local anesthetics are rare adverse reactions. At the most, they represent less than 1% of all adverse local anesthetic reactions. ⋯ In the event a potential allergic reaction occurs in a dental office, the dentist needs to properly evaluate the events leading up to the reaction and provide a differential diagnosis. A referral should be given to any patient when an allergic reaction cannot be ruled out as an intravascular injection, toxic overdose, psychogenic reaction, or an idiosyncratic event.
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Local anesthetics are commonly used in both dentistry and medicine. These drugs are also used in some office-based medical practices. ⋯ Both ester and amide local anesthetics are routinely used in medical practice. This article reviews the types and uses of local anesthesia in anesthesiology.
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Within the last 30 years, the role of dental hygienists has expanded to include the administration of local anesthesia. Several studies have been performed to assess practice characteristics and effectiveness of these changes in state licensure regulations. Findings indicate an acceptance of this expansion in dental hygiene practice; however, the delegation of this pain control procedures remains controversial. To address this controversy, the authors have reviewed of current literature to assess the practice of local anesthesia administration by dental hygienists.
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Dent. Clin. North Am. · Oct 2009
ReviewUse of prophylactic antibiotics in preventing infection of traumatic injuries.
In managing traumatic wounds, the primary goal is to achieve rapid healing with optimal functional and esthetic results. This is best accomplished by providing an environment that prevents infection of the wound during healing. ⋯ Accordingly, some investigators argue that prophylactic antibiotics have an important role in the management of certain types of wounds. This article reviews the basis of antibiotic use in preventing wound infection in general and its use in oral and facial wounds in particular.
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Bite wounds are especially prone to infectious complications, both local and systemic. In bite wounds to the face, such complications can create more difficulties than the initial tissue damage itself for the task of restoring an esthetic appearance. ⋯ Wound cleansing followed by primary closure is the treatment of choice, and the use of prophylactic antibiotics may further decrease the risk of infection. Delay in presentation beyond 24 hours is not necessarily a contraindication to immediate repair, but excessive crushing of the tissues or extensive edema usually dictates a more conservative approach, such as delayed closure.