Fear of giving upper palatal injections

[DDSBound]

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I observed with a dentist here in Penn who did NOT believe in using topical anesthetic prior to local anethetic injection. When he administered this to his patients, they would SCREAM so loud the waiting room could hear. It was like a scene out of a horror movie. I am not a squeamish person at all, but I have such a fear of hurting my patients with this injection. Do you think this is something I will get used to? All I think about are my patients screaming as the anesthetic forces it's way between palate and bone, separating them. I know the local anesthetic works really fast in this area, but can someone give me a better experience? Will I get used to this?

 

[pmantz]

I have gotten several injections into my palate and a topical anenestic was used. It really didn't help as much as when you get an injection into soft tissue. I definately don't think it hurt that bad, I believed I winced my eyes thats it. Hope that helped...

 

[PChemGrad]

I observed with a dentist here in Penn who did NOT believe in using topical anesthetic prior to local anethetic injection. When he administered this to his patients, they would SCREAM so loud the waiting room could hear. It was like a scene out of a horror movie. I am not a squeamish person at all, but I have such a fear of hurting my patients with this injection. Do you think this is something I will get used to? All I think about are my patients screaming as the anesthetic forces it's way between palate and bone, separating them. I know the local anesthetic works really fast in this area, but can someone give me a better experience? Will I get used to this?

I think you will get use to it when you realize you should use anesthetic if you want to get paid. Also you'll learn the best way to administer it when you get to practice on your fellow classmates, and they get to practice on you.

Overall it is something that you get use to. it just takes practice.

 

[Ething]

Man that is a crazy story. I'm going to be in your class next year and when we get around to that stuff, I hope we are allowed to use topical. I agree with you, I really would not like to hurt my patients.

 

[sonylarkhi]

There are cool little tricks on giving palatals...like holding a blunt object right next to the injection site to distract the patient.....wait til you have to give infraorbital injections...those are painful...

 

[DDSABeach]

There are cool little tricks on giving palatals...like holding a blunt object right next to the injection site to distract the patient.....wait til you have to give infraorbital injections...those are painful...

Yes, their are great techniques when injecting your patients as this, holding the end of your mouth mirror on the injection site area apply pressure then slowly inject epi, the slower you inject the epi the less it hurts the patient's. Just admin. a little at first then let that set in then do it again the second time the area has numbed enough for you won't hear the screaming, just toes curls. I truly believe in TOPICAL! you'll learn more tricks as you practice. It's all in preferences.

 

[doc toothache]

I observed with a dentist here in Penn who did NOT believe in using topical anesthetic prior to local anethetic injection. When he administered this to his patients, they would SCREAM so loud the waiting room could hear. It was like a scene out of a horror movie. I am not a squeamish person at all, but I have such a fear of hurting my patients with this injection. Do you think this is something I will get used to? All I think about are my patients screaming as the anesthetic forces it's way between palate and bone, separating them. I know the local anesthetic works really fast in this area, but can someone give me a better experience? Will I get used to this?

Topical anesthesia is of limited value since the degree of penetration is limited. Palatal injections are indeed uncomfortable for the patient. Some patients may have a more dramatic response than others. The more dramatic response is not necessarily a function of the discomfort inflicted. There are situations in which palatal injections are indicated;they are not for routine use and they may be somewhat technique sensitive.

 

[DDSBound]

Topical anesthesia is of limited value since the degree of penetration is limited. Palatal injections are indeed uncomfortable for the patient. Some patients may have a more dramatic response than others. The more dramatic response is not necessarily a function of the discomfort inflicted. There are situations in which palatal injections are indicated;they are not for routine use and they may be somewhat technique sensitive.

This dentist gave palatal injections every time he had to remove a top molar from a patient. He saw probably on average 1-2/day.

 

[apaul]

Also you'll learn the best way to administer it when you get to practice on your fellow classmates, and they get to practice on you.

so this is one of those parts of D school that I am definitely not looking forward to, getting shot up like crazy by the classmates as they practice....😱

 

[doc toothache]

This dentist gave palatal injections every time he had to remove a top molar from a patient. He saw probably on average 1-2/day.

It is not unusual to require palatal injections for extraction in the upper posterior quadrant. His experience is such that for extractions he longer waits to see if he needs to supplement. You use what you know works in your hands.

 

[darius99]

the dentist i shadowed never used topical before any injections... it's all about skill and practice. yes, some of the patients expressed discomfort, but you could already see that those patients were rigid and fearful of the needle before the injection even took place, so they were going to overreact no matter how little it hurt