Fracture of a Dental Needle during Administration of an Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block

From Volume 36, Issue 1, January 2009 | Pages 20-25

Authors

Ashish Shah

BDS MFDS

Specialist Registrar in Orthodontics, Royal Berkshire Hospital (Reading) and Wexham Park Hospital (Slough), London, UK

Articles by Ashish Shah

Neeta Mehta

BDS MFDS

Senior House Officer in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Beds LU4 0DZ

Articles by Neeta Mehta

Derek P Von Arx

FDS FRCS

Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Beds, Herts and Bucks Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Network, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Lewsey Road, Luton, Beds LU4 0DZ

Articles by Derek P Von Arx

Abstract

We report a case of a 42-year-old female who was referred to our department for the management of a fractured dental needle following administration of an inferior alveolar nerve block. The fractured needle was successfully removed under general anaesthesia. We also suggest some guidelines for preventing this unfortunate event.

Article