OSCE EXAM | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE STATIONS, CHECKLISTS & REVIEW
QUESTIONS 2026/2027
What is the most commonly used LA in dentistry? - ANS ✔✔Lidocaine
What percent is lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔2%
What are the trade names for Lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔Xylocaine, lignospan
What is the duration of lidocaine with epi? - ANS ✔✔3-4 hours for soft tissue and 60 mins for
pupal
What is the onset for Lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔2-5 mins
What is the mechanism of action for lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔Amide, blocks sodium channels
What is the purpose of epinephrine in LA? - ANS ✔✔Act as a vasoconstrictor which helps the
anesthetic last longer (keeps it localized)
What is the second most popular LA in dentistry? - ANS ✔✔Articaine
What LA is powerful via infiltration? - ANS ✔✔Articaine ( it is very potent and can diffuse to
bone)
What percent is Articaine? - ANS ✔✔4%
What is the mechanism of action for Articaine? - ANS ✔✔Amide and ester- greater lipid
solubility and ability to cross neural membranes
,-Blocks nerve conduction by binding to sodium channels
what are some trade names of Articaine? - ANS ✔✔Septocaine, orabloc
What is the duration of Articaine with epi? - ANS ✔✔3- 6 hours for soft tissue and 60-75 mins
for pupal
What is the onset for Articaine? - ANS ✔✔1-3 mins
What anesthetic does not have epinephrine in it? - ANS ✔✔Mepivacaine
What percent is mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔3% without epi and 2% with levondefrin *alternative to
epi
What is mepivacaine good for? - ANS ✔✔- short appointments
-pediatric patients
-hypersensitive patients
-geriatric/special needs pts
What is Mepivacaine not good for? - ANS ✔✔- long appointments
- complex appointments ex. Molar endo, fixed Proths and multiple extractions
What is a trade name for mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔Carbocaine, Polocaine
What is the onset for mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔3-5 mins
, What is the duration for mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔2 hours for soft tissue and 20 mins for pulpal
or 40 mins for nerve block
What LA is the longest lasting? - ANS ✔✔Bupivacaine
What is a trade name for bepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔Marcaine
What is the percent for bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔0.5 %
What is the onset for bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔6-10 mins
What is the duration for bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔4-9 hours for soft tissue and 60 mins for pulpal
What should you avoid with bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔Avoid with young children/special needs
due to long duration = possible self-inflicted injury
When is bupivacaine mostly used? - ANS ✔✔Used to manage post-op discomfort, given at end
of a procedure (ex. 3rd molars)
What is a trade name for Prilocaine? - ANS ✔✔Citanest
What is the percent for prilocaine? - ANS ✔✔4%
What is the onset for prilocaine? - ANS ✔✔3-5 mins
What is the duration of prilocaine w/o epi? - ANS ✔✔2-4 hours for soft tissue and 15 mins
pulpal (via infiltration) or 40-60 mins for nerve block
QUESTIONS 2026/2027
What is the most commonly used LA in dentistry? - ANS ✔✔Lidocaine
What percent is lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔2%
What are the trade names for Lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔Xylocaine, lignospan
What is the duration of lidocaine with epi? - ANS ✔✔3-4 hours for soft tissue and 60 mins for
pupal
What is the onset for Lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔2-5 mins
What is the mechanism of action for lidocaine? - ANS ✔✔Amide, blocks sodium channels
What is the purpose of epinephrine in LA? - ANS ✔✔Act as a vasoconstrictor which helps the
anesthetic last longer (keeps it localized)
What is the second most popular LA in dentistry? - ANS ✔✔Articaine
What LA is powerful via infiltration? - ANS ✔✔Articaine ( it is very potent and can diffuse to
bone)
What percent is Articaine? - ANS ✔✔4%
What is the mechanism of action for Articaine? - ANS ✔✔Amide and ester- greater lipid
solubility and ability to cross neural membranes
,-Blocks nerve conduction by binding to sodium channels
what are some trade names of Articaine? - ANS ✔✔Septocaine, orabloc
What is the duration of Articaine with epi? - ANS ✔✔3- 6 hours for soft tissue and 60-75 mins
for pupal
What is the onset for Articaine? - ANS ✔✔1-3 mins
What anesthetic does not have epinephrine in it? - ANS ✔✔Mepivacaine
What percent is mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔3% without epi and 2% with levondefrin *alternative to
epi
What is mepivacaine good for? - ANS ✔✔- short appointments
-pediatric patients
-hypersensitive patients
-geriatric/special needs pts
What is Mepivacaine not good for? - ANS ✔✔- long appointments
- complex appointments ex. Molar endo, fixed Proths and multiple extractions
What is a trade name for mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔Carbocaine, Polocaine
What is the onset for mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔3-5 mins
, What is the duration for mepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔2 hours for soft tissue and 20 mins for pulpal
or 40 mins for nerve block
What LA is the longest lasting? - ANS ✔✔Bupivacaine
What is a trade name for bepivacaine? - ANS ✔✔Marcaine
What is the percent for bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔0.5 %
What is the onset for bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔6-10 mins
What is the duration for bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔4-9 hours for soft tissue and 60 mins for pulpal
What should you avoid with bupivacaine? - ANS ✔✔Avoid with young children/special needs
due to long duration = possible self-inflicted injury
When is bupivacaine mostly used? - ANS ✔✔Used to manage post-op discomfort, given at end
of a procedure (ex. 3rd molars)
What is a trade name for Prilocaine? - ANS ✔✔Citanest
What is the percent for prilocaine? - ANS ✔✔4%
What is the onset for prilocaine? - ANS ✔✔3-5 mins
What is the duration of prilocaine w/o epi? - ANS ✔✔2-4 hours for soft tissue and 15 mins
pulpal (via infiltration) or 40-60 mins for nerve block
