Landmarks:

• Mandibular premolars

• Mucobuccal fold

Target:

Mental foramen

Procedure:

Initially palpate the alveolar mucosa covering a bony depression representing the mental foramen. The needle is oriented with the bevel towards the bone and the needle tip placed above the mucosa in the area of the foramen. The needle is inserted until the depth of penetration is 5 to 6 mm and definite bony contact made.

Nerves anesthetized:

• Mental

• Incisive

Areas anesthetized:

• Buccal mucous membrane anterior to mental foramen to midline

• Skin of lower lip and chin

• Pulpal nerve fibers to the premolars, canines and incisors

Indications:

• Dental procedures requiring pulpal anesthesia on teeth anterior to the mental foramen

• When only anterior teeth or premolars are being treated and the inferior alveolar nerve block is not required

Contraindications:

• Infection at the site of the injection

  Advantages:

• Pulpal anesthesia is provided without uncomfortable lingual anesthesia

• High success rate

• Poor success rates associated with inferior alveolar nerve blocks are avoided

Disadvantages:

• Lack of lingual soft tissue anesthesia

• Mandibular central incisors may not be anesthetized due to overlap of nerve fibers at the midline with the opposite side