Preference of Dental Practitioners Toward the Use of Local and Topical Anesthetics for Pediatric Patients in Tamilnadu: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Dr. D. Meera Fathima, Dr. Jayanthi Mungara, Dr. Poornima Vijayakumar, Deebiga Karunakaran

Abstract: Background: Local anesthesia plays a vital role in the success of dental procedures by ensuring maximum comfort for pediatric patients. However, its administration can also be a source of fear and anxiety for children. Therefore, it is crucial to apply appropriate pre-anesthetic measures to reduce discomfort and anxiety associated with local anesthesia. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions and preferences of dental practitioners in Tamil Nadu regarding the use of local and topical anesthesia in pediatric patients. Methodology: A structured questionnaire was distributed to dental practitioners in Tamil Nadu through Google Forms. The questionnaire collected information on the practitioners? sociodemographic details and their perceptions and practices related to local and topical anesthesia in pediatric patients. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 24.0), with a p-value of 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 101 responses were received from dental practitioners in Tamil Nadu. Among the respondents, 93.9% preferred lidocaine as the local anesthetic agent of choice. When selecting local anesthesia, 61% of practitioners considered the child?s precise medical condition as the most important factor. For needle selection, 55% of practitioners preferred 27-gauge needles for both infiltrations and nerve blocks. Short needles were favored for infiltrations by 61% of practitioners, while 78% preferred long needles for nerve blocks. For topical anesthesia, 74% of practitioners preferred lidocaine, but 55.8% were unaware of the specific brand they used. The majority believed that topical anesthesia was effective prior to the administration of local anesthesia, yet 70.6% reported that patients often complained about its taste. Conclusion: The findings indicate that among dental practitioners in Tamil Nadu, lidocaine is the most commonly preferred agent for both local and topical anesthesia in pediatric patients. Precise medical condition was the primary factor influencing local anesthetic dosage decisions. Most practitioners preferred short needles for infiltration and long needles for nerve blocks, with the 27-gauge needle being the most commonly used for both techniques.

Keywords: Topical anesthesia, local anesthesia, pediatric patients

How to Cite?: Dr. D. Meera Fathima, Dr. Jayanthi Mungara, Dr. Poornima Vijayakumar, Deebiga Karunakaran, "Preference of Dental Practitioners Toward the Use of Local and Topical Anesthetics for Pediatric Patients in Tamilnadu: A Cross-Sectional Survey", Volume 14 Issue 8, August 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 255-260, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25803211202, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25803211202