The dental hygienist has already administered two cartridges of 2% lidocaine to a patient.The patient is reporting that he is not getting numb.What should the hygienist do at this time?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hygienist should attempt to readminister the anesthetic, adjusting the technique. It is possible that the initial injection technique was not effective, and adjusting it may allow the anesthetic to work. If the patient still does not get numb, then the hygienist should consult with the dentist to decide if additional anesthetic or a different type of anesthetic is needed. Calling the manufacturer to report a bad batch of anesthetic cartridges is not necessary at this time, as it is likely an issue with the injection technique.

The Dental Hygienist Has Already Administered Two Cartridges of 2