Adrenaline used for dental anesthesia is?

Appeared in: AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Explanation

Adrenaline is added to local anesthetics to act as a vasoconstrictor, which narrows blood vessels at the site of injection.
This vasoconstriction slows the rate at which the anesthetic is absorbed into the bloodstream, thereby prolonging its numbing effect.
Slowing absorption also helps to minimize bleeding in the area, which is particularly useful in surgical procedures.
The most common and standard concentration of adrenaline used for this purpose in dental and minor surgical procedures is 1:100,000.

Option B: This is a significantly higher concentration of adrenaline, typically 10 times stronger than that used for local anesthesia.
Option C: While 1:200,000 is used in dentistry, it is a weaker concentration and considered an alternative to the more common 1:100,000 standard, not the primary choice.
Option D: This is an extremely high concentration (1000 times stronger than 1:100,000) and is never used for local anesthetic injections.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Adrenaline Concentration in Local Anesthesia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A core nursing responsibility is the 'five rights' of medication administration, which includes verifying the right drug and the right dose/concentration. An error in adrenaline concentration can be life-threatening.
Administering an incorrect, higher concentration of adrenaline (e.g., 1:10,000) for local anesthesia can cause severe adverse effects, including tachycardia, palpitations, extreme hypertension, and potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
Nurses assisting in procedures must be vigilant in checking labels and confirming concentrations with the practitioner to ensure patient safety.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of standard drug concentrations for a specific clinical application.
First, identify the keywords in the question: 'Adrenaline' and 'dental anesthesia'.
Recall the purpose of adrenaline in this context: it's a vasoconstrictor used to prolong the anesthetic effect and reduce bleeding.
Mentally review the different standard concentrations of adrenaline and their uses. The most common concentrations are 1:1,000 (anaphylaxis), 1:10,000 (cardiac arrest), and 1:100,000 (local anesthesia).
Compare your recalled knowledge with the given options.
Select the option that matches the standard concentration for local/dental anesthesia, which is 1:100,000.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology Nurses Shanbhag 3e pp. 83-85, 148-150

Practise the full AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.