Which injection is used to anesthetize the linguals of the maxillary anterior teeth?

Which injection is used to anesthetize the linguals of the maxillary anterior teeth?

• A. Nasopalatine
• B. Anterior superior alveolar nerve block
• C. Infraorbital nerve block
• D. Greater palatine nerve

Answer: (A)

The key idea is which nerve block reaches the palatal (lingual) tissues of the front upper teeth. The nasopalatine nerve travels through the incisive canal and supplies the anterior part of the hard palate and the palatal gingiva of the maxillary central incisors through the canines. Anesthetizing near the incisive foramen blocks these tissues, including the lingual aspect of the maxillary anterior teeth. The other injections target different areas: the anterior superior alveolar block mainly affects the pulps and facial gingiva of the maxillary anterior teeth and their buccal side; the infraorbital block covers the upper lip, cheek, and facial tissues plus the anterior teeth up to the canine; the greater palatine block numbs the posterior palatal mucosa and gingiva, not the front teeth.

The key idea is which nerve block reaches the palatal (lingual) tissues of the front upper teeth. The nasopalatine nerve travels through the incisive canal and supplies the anterior part of the hard palate and the palatal gingiva of the maxillary central incisors through the canines. Anesthetizing near the incisive foramen blocks these tissues, including the lingual aspect of the maxillary anterior teeth.

The other injections target different areas: the anterior superior alveolar block mainly affects the pulps and facial gingiva of the maxillary anterior teeth and their buccal side; the infraorbital block covers the upper lip, cheek, and facial tissues plus the anterior teeth up to the canine; the greater palatine block numbs the posterior palatal mucosa and gingiva, not the front teeth.