Contraindications of Vasoconstrictors in Dentistry
R. Balakrishnan* and Vijay Ebenezer

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Velachery Main Road, Narayanapuram, Chennai - 600 100, India.

Abstract: The association of a vasoconstrictor with a local anaesthetic solution is indicated because the vasoconstrictor decreases the intravascular passage of the injected solution and thus ensures an increase in duration and depth of the anaesthesia while reducing the systemic effects of the solution. Adrenaline is the main vasoconstrictor used today in local anaesthesia for dental treatments as it provides deeper anaesthesia, almost bloodless operative field and reduces the rate of absorption of local anaesthetic agents in the bloodstream by decreasing their plasma concentration. Vasoconstrictors can be used safely for most patients treated by dentists. But with the boon they also bring unknown medical complications which are more commonly not undergoing medical treatment like different cardiovascular diseases and other systemic diseases which if applied in those medically compromised patients can lead to life risk. In this review article various contraindications of vasoconstrictors to dentistry are being discussed.

Keywords: Adrenaline; Vasoconstrictors; Systemic diseases; Contraindications; Life risk

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