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(HealthCentersOnline) - Researchers have developed a new device that delivers anesthesia to a single tooth instead of numbing the entire side of the mouth.

Dentists primarily use a form of local anesthesia called "mandibular block." This form of anesthesia numbs one entire side of the mouth, including the lip, tongue and inside of the cheek. It can only be used on one side of the mouth at a time, so a second appointment must be made if dental work needs to be done on both sides.

Periodontal ligament (PDL) injection is an alternative to mandibular block. This form of local anesthesia numbs only the single tooth that needs repair. This avoids the numbing of the surrounding tissues and allows each individual tooth that needs work to be anesthetized. However, current techniques for delivering PDL injections can be quite painful and are difficult to administer.

In an attempt to make PDL injections easier for dentists to administer and less painful for patients, Milestone Scientific Inc. has developed a Single Tooth Anesthesia Device (STA). This device uses patented computer controlled technology to measure pressure at the tip of the needle, allowing dentists to accurately inject the precise location necessary for an effective PDL injection.

"The dentist will now be able to effectively target a single tooth with anesthesia, increasing the efficiency of his or her practice," said Leonard Osser, chief executive officer of Milestone Scientific Inc., in a press release. "Because the lips, cheeks and tongue are not numbed when using a PDL injection, dentists can also work on teeth that are located on opposite sides of the mouth during the same office visit."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the Single Tooth Anesthesia Device for marketing and sale in August.

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