CDCA local anesthesia exam review 2026
Questions and Answers
which has thicker cortical plate, maxillary or mandibular? - Correct answer-
mandibular (this decreased the amount of the local anesthesia molecules that can
penetrate to nerves during infiltration injections)
due to the thickness of cortical bone, which is a good option for local anesthetic in
the mandibular arch during infiltrations? - Correct answer-Articaine (Septocaine) is
sometimes effective for mand. infiltrations (4% vs. 2% for lidocaine) due to the
increased number of molecules
hematomas are most common with which type of injection, and why? - Correct
answer-PSA due to nicking a vessel in the pterygoid plexus of veins
what is the TX for a hematoma? - Correct answer-pressure, cold compresses
on/off, NSAIDS, and time.
a positive aspiration when administering a PSA is due to what? - Correct answer-
aspirating hemorrhage caused by injection
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,what are the three most common locations for hematomas to occur? - Correct
answer-1. PSA
2. IA
3. mental
blanching of the tissue following/during an injection is caused by what? - Correct
answer-vasospasm/vasoconstriction caused by epinephrine or brushing against
autonomic nerves stimulation vasospasm
the pterygomandibular space/triangle is bordered by what anatomical structures? -
Correct answer-ramus, lateral pterygoid muscle, and medial pterygoid muscle
the pterygomandibular space/triangle is identified intra-orally by what? - Correct
answer-pterygoid hamulus (palpation), coronoid notch (palpation), and
pterygomandibular raphe (visual)
the mandibular foramen lies approx. __________________________ of the
distance from the anterior border of the ramus to the posterior border - Correct
answer-1/2 to 2/3
Antero-posteriorly, the greater palatine foramen is located between the
___________________________. - Correct answer-middle oft he maxillary second
molar and the middle of the third molar in about 80-90% of patients.
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, all arteries leading to the oral cavity receive blood from what? - Correct answer-
external carotid (most are direct or indirect branches from the maxillary artery with
the exception of the lingula -- this is a direct branch from the external carotid)
veins from the oral cavity will drain into what? - Correct answer-internal jugular
(both internal and external drain into the brachiocephalic veins which drain to the
superior vena cava
do myelinated or un-myelinated nerves create faster impulse? - Correct answer-
myelinated (impulses jump from node to node -- node of ranvier)
what is saltatory conduction? - Correct answer-the process of nerve impulses
jumping from nodes of ranvier along a myelinated nerve
what is the resting potential charges of a nerve? - Correct answer-inside is negative
and outside is positive
what molecules are predominately outside/inside at resting potential? - Correct
answer-Na+ outside and K+ inside
what is depolarization? - Correct answer-Na+ channels open , Na+ flows in
reversing polarity; K+ flows out to restore neutrality; the Na+ and K+ pumps
restore polarity (resting potential)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Questions and Answers
which has thicker cortical plate, maxillary or mandibular? - Correct answer-
mandibular (this decreased the amount of the local anesthesia molecules that can
penetrate to nerves during infiltration injections)
due to the thickness of cortical bone, which is a good option for local anesthetic in
the mandibular arch during infiltrations? - Correct answer-Articaine (Septocaine) is
sometimes effective for mand. infiltrations (4% vs. 2% for lidocaine) due to the
increased number of molecules
hematomas are most common with which type of injection, and why? - Correct
answer-PSA due to nicking a vessel in the pterygoid plexus of veins
what is the TX for a hematoma? - Correct answer-pressure, cold compresses
on/off, NSAIDS, and time.
a positive aspiration when administering a PSA is due to what? - Correct answer-
aspirating hemorrhage caused by injection
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,what are the three most common locations for hematomas to occur? - Correct
answer-1. PSA
2. IA
3. mental
blanching of the tissue following/during an injection is caused by what? - Correct
answer-vasospasm/vasoconstriction caused by epinephrine or brushing against
autonomic nerves stimulation vasospasm
the pterygomandibular space/triangle is bordered by what anatomical structures? -
Correct answer-ramus, lateral pterygoid muscle, and medial pterygoid muscle
the pterygomandibular space/triangle is identified intra-orally by what? - Correct
answer-pterygoid hamulus (palpation), coronoid notch (palpation), and
pterygomandibular raphe (visual)
the mandibular foramen lies approx. __________________________ of the
distance from the anterior border of the ramus to the posterior border - Correct
answer-1/2 to 2/3
Antero-posteriorly, the greater palatine foramen is located between the
___________________________. - Correct answer-middle oft he maxillary second
molar and the middle of the third molar in about 80-90% of patients.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, all arteries leading to the oral cavity receive blood from what? - Correct answer-
external carotid (most are direct or indirect branches from the maxillary artery with
the exception of the lingula -- this is a direct branch from the external carotid)
veins from the oral cavity will drain into what? - Correct answer-internal jugular
(both internal and external drain into the brachiocephalic veins which drain to the
superior vena cava
do myelinated or un-myelinated nerves create faster impulse? - Correct answer-
myelinated (impulses jump from node to node -- node of ranvier)
what is saltatory conduction? - Correct answer-the process of nerve impulses
jumping from nodes of ranvier along a myelinated nerve
what is the resting potential charges of a nerve? - Correct answer-inside is negative
and outside is positive
what molecules are predominately outside/inside at resting potential? - Correct
answer-Na+ outside and K+ inside
what is depolarization? - Correct answer-Na+ channels open , Na+ flows in
reversing polarity; K+ flows out to restore neutrality; the Na+ and K+ pumps
restore polarity (resting potential)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
