Nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) procedures are generally elective and require intermediate duration anesthetics. Selection of agents for NSPT is based on patient profile, the length of the procedure, and the need for hemostasis. This article briefly describes the local anesthetic agents used in the NSPT in adult patients . Local anesthetic agents used for dental procedures are usually safe and non-allergenic.
The majority of these injectable agents are metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. They also possess vasodilatory properties that result in an increased rate of anesthetic absorption into the bloodstream but are associated with an increased risk of systemic toxicity, reduced duration of action and increased bleeding in the area. However, vasoconstrictors are added to local anesthetic agents to counteract the vasodilatory properties. When providing local…
