Which needle is typically used for infiltration anesthesia?

Which needle is typically used for infiltration anesthesia?

• A. 27 G short
• B. 25 G short
• C. 30 G short
• D. 27 G long

Answer: (A)

Infiltration anesthesia is delivered by depositing the anesthetic directly into the tissue near the tooth, so you only need a short needle to reach the target area without going deep. The gauge is chosen to balance smooth fluid flow with minimal tissue trauma, and a 27-gauge short needle is the standard because it provides good control and enough rigidity to advance accurately while keeping tissue damage and patient discomfort to a minimum. A larger bore like 25G short can cause more tissue trauma, while a 30G short, though thinner, can be harder to handle and may slow the injection. A long needle isn’t needed for infiltration since the goal is superficial tissue penetration, not reaching deeper structures.

Infiltration anesthesia is delivered by depositing the anesthetic directly into the tissue near the tooth, so you only need a short needle to reach the target area without going deep. The gauge is chosen to balance smooth fluid flow with minimal tissue trauma, and a 27-gauge short needle is the standard because it provides good control and enough rigidity to advance accurately while keeping tissue damage and patient discomfort to a minimum. A larger bore like 25G short can cause more tissue trauma, while a 30G short, though thinner, can be harder to handle and may slow the injection. A long needle isn’t needed for infiltration since the goal is superficial tissue penetration, not reaching deeper structures.