Local Anesthesia Study Guide Exam Questions with Answers
Graded A+ 2025/2026
Which gauge needle would provide the least reliable aspiration? - 30
Which local anesthetic block anesthetizes the largest intraoral area? - IA/L
Where is the needle insertion point for the NP block? - lateral to incisive
papilla
What injection should be given if the clinician needs anesthesia of soft
tissue on the lingual surfaces of teeth 26 and 27? - IA
When administering the IA block, the barrel of the syringe should be in
what relation with the mandibular occlusal plane? - parallel
Which of the following is an important landmark to locate before performing
an IA block? - coronoid notch
A local anesthetic solution that has a higher pH can be expected to have: -
More base ions to diffuse across the membrane
What determines the depth for penetration for maxillary infiltrations? - root
length of tooth
Which characteristic enhances the onset and effectiveness of local
anesthetics? - high lipid solubility
Which of the following anesthetics is metabolized in the lungs and liver? -
prilocaine
If a local anesthetic has a low pH, what does this tell you about the onset of
action? - It will be slower because more cations than base
If the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary first molar is not anesthetized by a
posterior superior alveolar local anesthetic, the dental hygienist should
administer which of the following? - MSA injection
Which of the following structures does the IO block anesthetize? - The
anterior and middle superior alveolar nerves in one quadrant
, When performing maxillary anesthesia, which is the only local anesthetic
block that requires the clinician to contact bone with the needle to ensure
success? - IO
Branches of which nerve are located in the parotid gland and can cause
paralysis of the face and eye if inadvertently injected? - facial nerve
What is the target area for the ASA? - MB fold at the apex of the maxillary
canine
If the clinician needs to anesthetize #9-11, with facial and lingual gingival
tissue as well as periodontium, what injections must be given? - ASA, NP
What is the specific receptor theory? - Local anesthetics block the influx of
NA+
What is the role of the cations in local anesthetic agents? - bind, cling, and
block sodium channels
Which of the following local anesthetic agents has a half life of 20 minutes?
- sseptocaine
You have a patient that is a steroid dependent asthmatic. You need to
provide pain control utilizing local anesthetic. Which of the following would
be the best choice for a 60 minute appointment? - 3% Mepivicaine plain
A cartridge of anesthetic that has 1:100,000 epinephrine would have what
amount? - 0.018
A local anesthetic that has a lower pKa would have more cations present,
thus decreasing the onset of action. - false
The duration of effective pulpal and soft tissue anesthesia is equivalent with
all concentrations of epinephrine meaning that you will achieve the same
response from 1:100,000 as you do with 1;200,000. - true?
The dose of epinephrine for medically compromised/cardiovascular
patients is: - 0.04
Graded A+ 2025/2026
Which gauge needle would provide the least reliable aspiration? - 30
Which local anesthetic block anesthetizes the largest intraoral area? - IA/L
Where is the needle insertion point for the NP block? - lateral to incisive
papilla
What injection should be given if the clinician needs anesthesia of soft
tissue on the lingual surfaces of teeth 26 and 27? - IA
When administering the IA block, the barrel of the syringe should be in
what relation with the mandibular occlusal plane? - parallel
Which of the following is an important landmark to locate before performing
an IA block? - coronoid notch
A local anesthetic solution that has a higher pH can be expected to have: -
More base ions to diffuse across the membrane
What determines the depth for penetration for maxillary infiltrations? - root
length of tooth
Which characteristic enhances the onset and effectiveness of local
anesthetics? - high lipid solubility
Which of the following anesthetics is metabolized in the lungs and liver? -
prilocaine
If a local anesthetic has a low pH, what does this tell you about the onset of
action? - It will be slower because more cations than base
If the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary first molar is not anesthetized by a
posterior superior alveolar local anesthetic, the dental hygienist should
administer which of the following? - MSA injection
Which of the following structures does the IO block anesthetize? - The
anterior and middle superior alveolar nerves in one quadrant
, When performing maxillary anesthesia, which is the only local anesthetic
block that requires the clinician to contact bone with the needle to ensure
success? - IO
Branches of which nerve are located in the parotid gland and can cause
paralysis of the face and eye if inadvertently injected? - facial nerve
What is the target area for the ASA? - MB fold at the apex of the maxillary
canine
If the clinician needs to anesthetize #9-11, with facial and lingual gingival
tissue as well as periodontium, what injections must be given? - ASA, NP
What is the specific receptor theory? - Local anesthetics block the influx of
NA+
What is the role of the cations in local anesthetic agents? - bind, cling, and
block sodium channels
Which of the following local anesthetic agents has a half life of 20 minutes?
- sseptocaine
You have a patient that is a steroid dependent asthmatic. You need to
provide pain control utilizing local anesthetic. Which of the following would
be the best choice for a 60 minute appointment? - 3% Mepivicaine plain
A cartridge of anesthetic that has 1:100,000 epinephrine would have what
amount? - 0.018
A local anesthetic that has a lower pKa would have more cations present,
thus decreasing the onset of action. - false
The duration of effective pulpal and soft tissue anesthesia is equivalent with
all concentrations of epinephrine meaning that you will achieve the same
response from 1:100,000 as you do with 1;200,000. - true?
The dose of epinephrine for medically compromised/cardiovascular
patients is: - 0.04
