Dentistry students' knowledge about the use of local anesthetics

• Autor(a) principal: Souza, Alzemira Mascarenhas de
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Oliveira, Juliana Maria Souza de, Farias, Kaliny Souza, Coêlho, Anna Paula Silva, Pereira, Juliana Vianna, Domingues, José Eduardo Gomes, Conde, Nikeila Chacon de Oliveira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Revista da ABENO (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://revabeno.emnuvens.com.br/revabeno/article/view/1776
• topic: Estudantes de Odontologia; Anestesia Local; Anestésicos; Students Dental; Anesthesia Local; Anesthetics; Educación en Odontología; Endodoncia; Curriculum

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of undergraduate dental students regarding the indication and use of local anesthetics in clinical and surgical procedures. This is a prospective, observational study, using a questionnaire with open and closed questions about the subject as a collection tool. After signing the ICF, 59 students who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria participated in the study by answering the questionnaire. The students included in the study had a mean age of 22.75 years, 29.31% (n=17) were male and 70.68% (n=41) were female, and one student did not declare. The average number of years in college was 4 years, with 19 students (31%) in 6th period, 22 (37.9%) in 8th period and 18 (31%) in 10th period.  Fifty-seven percent identified situations related to anesthetic toxicity, 94.9% performed directed anamnesis, and 93.2% chose the anesthetic salt according to the general condition of the patient. However, when questioned about the maximum anesthetic dose in a given clinical situation, only 10.2% answered correctly. For anesthetic application procedures, 89.8% considered that controlling the volume of anesthetic solution injected was an important factor, and 72.9% informed that prior aspiration was done before starting the injection of the anesthetic. Regarding the success of the technique, 78% reported success. Considering the availability of anesthetics, the indication for patients with some systemic condition, 62.7% knew how to correctly indicate the anesthetic solution. Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the gender of the students regarding the use of topical anesthetic (p = 0.018) and the use of local anesthesia for subgingival periodontal scaling (p = 0.008), both indications being more common in female students. It was concluded that most of the students had the necessary knowledge to choose the anesthetic salt and were successful in using the technique, however, they did not correctly calculate the maximum dose recommended for a clinical situation presented as an assumption, requiring, in this and other parameters, a review of concepts, procedures, and clinical conducts.