What areas does the PSA nerve block anesthetize?

What areas does the PSA nerve block anesthetize?

• A. 1st, 2nd, and distal of 3rd molar
• B. All maxillary teeth
• C. Only the maxillary first molar
• D. The buccal mucosa of the maxillary arch

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the posterior superior alveolar (PSA) nerve block targets the molar region supplied by the PSA nerve. This distribution includes the maxillary first molar (primarily the parts not supplied by the MSA, i.e., most of the tooth except the mesiobuccal root in many patients), the maxillary second molar, and the maxillary third molar (including the distal surfaces/roots). In other words, the PSA block anesthetizes the molars on the posterior maxilla rather than all maxillary teeth, and it does not numb the entire buccal mucosa of the arch. Thus, the areas most consistently associated with the PSA block are the first molar, the second molar, and the distal aspect of the third molar, which aligns with choosing the option describing those molar regions.

The key idea is that the posterior superior alveolar (PSA) nerve block targets the molar region supplied by the PSA nerve. This distribution includes the maxillary first molar (primarily the parts not supplied by the MSA, i.e., most of the tooth except the mesiobuccal root in many patients), the maxillary second molar, and the maxillary third molar (including the distal surfaces/roots). In other words, the PSA block anesthetizes the molars on the posterior maxilla rather than all maxillary teeth, and it does not numb the entire buccal mucosa of the arch.

Thus, the areas most consistently associated with the PSA block are the first molar, the second molar, and the distal aspect of the third molar, which aligns with choosing the option describing those molar regions.