Dental Anesthetic Needles
In dental school most of us learned to use the same two sizes and lengths of dental anesthetic needles. Once I got out into practice and started to experiment with different sizes and lengths, I changed my protocol.
I discovered through my years of practice that I like to use an extra short 30 gauge needle that is 12 mm long for maxillary anesthetic injections and for mandibular injections that are premolars and forward. What I like about the extra short needle is that it does not bend. For these two types of anesthetic injections, the extra short needle is long enough and easier to control than the “short” one we learned to use in dental school. As a bonus, if a patient asks to see the needle, I usually hear them say, “Oh, that’s not so bad.”
On a mandibular block, I prefer to use a 27 gauge needle that is 25 mm long. What I like about this size is that it gets me to the depth I need and is easy to manipulate. Rarely do I need a longer needle that is more difficult to control.
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About Author
Dr. Kelley D. Brummett was born and raised in Missouri. She attended the University of Kansas on a full-ride scholarship in springboard diving and received honors for being the Big Eight Diving Champion on the 1 meter springboard in 1988 and in 1992. Dr. Kelley received her BA in communication at the University of Kansas and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After practicing nursing, Dr Kelley Brummett went on to earn a degree in Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. She has continued her education at the Pankey Institute to further her love of learning and her pursuit to provide quality individual care. Dr. Brummett is a Clinical Instructor at Georgia Regents University and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Brummett and her husband Darin have two children, Sarah and Sam. They have made Newnan their home for the past 9 years. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading and playing with her dogs. Dr. Brummett is an active member of the ADA, GDA, AGDA, and an alumni of the Pankey Institute.