Which injection is used to numb the palatal tissues behind the maxillary second premolar?

Which injection is used to numb the palatal tissues behind the maxillary second premolar?

• A. Greater Palatine
• B. Nasopalatine
• C. Infraorbital
• D. PSA

Answer: (A)

The palatal tissues behind the maxillary second premolar are supplied by the greater palatine nerve as it runs in the greater palatine canal and exits at the greater palatine foramen on the posterior hard palate. An injection targeting that foramen—the greater palatine nerve block—numbs the palatal mucosa and gingiva in that region. The nasopalatine nerve serves the anterior palatal area near the incisors, so it wouldn’t cover the area behind the second premolar. Infraorbital and PSA blocks primarily affect the maxillary teeth and facial soft tissues rather than the specific palatal tissue behind the second premolar.

The palatal tissues behind the maxillary second premolar are supplied by the greater palatine nerve as it runs in the greater palatine canal and exits at the greater palatine foramen on the posterior hard palate. An injection targeting that foramen—the greater palatine nerve block—numbs the palatal mucosa and gingiva in that region. The nasopalatine nerve serves the anterior palatal area near the incisors, so it wouldn’t cover the area behind the second premolar. Infraorbital and PSA blocks primarily affect the maxillary teeth and facial soft tissues rather than the specific palatal tissue behind the second premolar.