The Journal of the American Dental Association
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Trismus may be a complication from local anesthesia. Patients with trismus of unknown cause after dental treatment should be evaluated thoroughly. ⋯ A right lateral pharyngeal space infection developed after a general restorative procedure that involved an inferior alveolar nerve injection on the same side. The patient's severe trismus required awake intubation, incision and drainage while the patient was under general anesthesia, treatment with antibiotics and ten days of hospitalization.
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A conceptual model of the market for dental services is described. The model is based on principles of demand and production theory and the applications of those principles to the dental industry. The model highlights the significance of relevant economic indicators which are discussed to create an awareness of and, when possible, explain the challenges awaiting dentistry in the decades to come. It is concluded that, while dental service expenditures per dentist are likely to increase, larger portions of the population may not be able to afford dental care if prices of dental services continue to increase faster than individual budgets.
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A young girl was brought to the emergency department because her tongue became entrapped while she was drinking from an aluminum soft-drink can. A dental drill was used to remove the can. The tongue was observed for 48 hours, during which an ischemic area recovered spontaneously.
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Comparative Study
Incidence of lingual nerve trauma and postinjection complications in conventional mandibular block anesthesia.
Trauma to the lingual nerve is potential risk factor for patients receiving mandibular block anesthesia. This paper describes the results of a patient survey of 9,587 conventional mandibular blocks received by 2,289 adults. The incidence of lingual nerve trauma and postinjection complications is reported along with an associated analysis of the duration of complications, procedures at the time of incident, the side of occurrence (right or left), and gender ratios. In addition, recommendations for patient evaluation, treatment, and follow-up care are discussed.