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| FAQs |
ABOUT INTRAOSSEOUS ANESTHESIA
| Q. |
Explain why IntraFlow™ is better than a nerve block? |
| A. |
The inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is great for getting the patient good and numb (except for the high percentage that fail). But, from the patient’s perspective, that’s part of the problem, they stay numb for hours! Also, it is important to remember that soft tissue numbness does not directly correlate with degree of pulpal anesthesia. IntraFlow™ offers immediate profound pulpal anesthesia without facial numbness. According to the Surgeon General 80% of patients dislike going to the dentist because they fear pain and dislike the lingering numbness. |
| Q. |
Isn’t intraosseous anesthesia difficult to administer? |
| A. |
Some intraosseous injection aids have been around for years, are difficult to use and involve multiple steps. But IntraFlow™ is completely different, it’s one-step and easy to use. Actually, it’s more like a low-speed handpiece and makes a huge difference in patient comfort. To quote Dr. Myer Leonard, recognized lecturer, “patients (receiving intraosseous anesthesia) vigorously expressed their appreciation of and gratitude for the painless nature of the injection and speed of the procedure”.
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| Q. |
I’ve never used intraosseous injections and don’t really see the need. I know how to get my patients numb and they are not complaining. |
| A. |
According to the Surgeon General 80% of patients dislike going to the dentist because they fear pain and dislike the lingering numbness. IntraFlow™ can reduce the number of “no-shows” due to anxiety. Once given the option of IO, patients appreciate that they can resume normal activities immediately following their dental appointment. Also, IO delivers focused profound anesthesia with a very low failure rate. Dentists can work in multiple quadrants in the same visit. |
| Q. |
Is intraosseous anesthesia (IO)
a proven technique? |
| A. |
Yes. Intraosseous (IO) dental anesthesia has
been used for nearly 100 years. The safety, efficacy,
and benefits of the procedure have been well documented
in clinical journals. The IntraFlow™ Anesthesia
Delivery System is the first device that makes
IO injections easy and convenient, with true one-step
operation. |
| Q. |
Do I need to switch anesthethic brands? |
| A. |
No. IntraFlow™ is designed to fit the same cartridges you use now.
Note: Doctors must use their clinical judgment when choosing anesthetic type and quantities.
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ABOUT THE INTRAFLOW™ SYSTEM
| Q. |
In what types of dental procedures can IntraFlow™ be used? |
| A. |
IntraFlow™ can be used for routine fillings, crowns, simple extractions, root canals, restorative quadrant dentistry, and is excellent for emergency pain relief. IntraFlow™ is particularly useful for procedures involving difficult to numb teeth like mandibular molars and premolars. |
| Q. |
Is the IntraFlow™ System
cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? |
| A. |
Yes. The FDA has granted clearance, classifying
IntraFlow™ as a Class I medical device for
dental indications. |
| Q. |
Drilling into the bone sounds painful, does it hurt? |
| A. |
No, proper preparation of the soft-tissue eliminates sensation in the gum. Topical anesthetic should be applied to the site in the usual manner. Sometimes it may be necessary to further anesthetize the soft tissue by using an infiltration injection. The bone has limited pain receptors. |
| Q. |
Can I use IntraFlow™ as a primary anesthetic technique, I have heard it is usually used as a “supplemental” or for really tough situations? |
| A. |
Definitely! Patients will get the most benefit when IntraFlow™ is used as a primary anesthesia delivery method and love that they are not numb for hours longer than necessary. Patients appreciate the fact that they can resume normal activities (eating, talking, drinking) immediately after the completion of the dental procedure. |
| Q. |
Will the anesthetic “wear off” before the procedure is complete? |
| A. |
Many procedures only take 30 minutes or less. Follow the guidelines for dosage and remember that it is easy to administer an additional IntraFlow™ dose when necessary. |
| Q. |
Is there a special type of anesthetic
cartridge required to work in the system? |
| A. |
No. The IntraFlow™ System is designed
to use a standard 1.8ml dental anesthetic cartridge. |
| Q. |
What kind of anesthetic do I use? |
| A. |
As always, choice of anesthetic is up to you
as a dental professional. Since an IO injection
is similar to that of an intravenous injection,
those formulations with a vasoconstrictor (epinephrine)
should be use judiciously due to its propensity
to create tachycardia. |
| Q. |
How much anesthetic do I
use with IntraFlow™? |
| A. |
An IO injection typically requires less anesthetic
than that required for a “block.” Volume of anesthetic varies depending on duration of procedure, patient’s medical history, patient’s response to anesthetic, number and type of teeth to be anesthesized. |
ABOUT RISKS & COMPLICATIONS
| Q. |
Is there a risk of infection when drilling into the bone? |
| A. |
Intraosseous injections have been performed safely for nearly 100 years. This is because the anesthetic itself has antibacterial qualities and the bone marrow contains a high proportion of lymphocyte cells (disease fighting cells). Appropriate surface disinfection will also minimize this risk. |
| Q. |
What about potential for nerve
damage? |
| A. |
Given the location of the injection (into the
cancellous bone and away from the nerve itself),
risk of nerve damage is substantially lower than
that experienced with traditional block injections. |
| Q. |
What about hitting a root during
injection? |
| A. |
We recommend working with a current x-ray of
the patient’s mouth to best understand root
structure, to identify the best injection point,
and avoid hitting a root. |
| Q. |
Can I use my IntraFlow™ System on Children? |
| A. |
Children in the mixed dentition stage may have crowding in the cancellous bone and therefore the use of IO may be contraindicated to prevent damage to the permanent developing teeth.
*American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Guidelines
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For more information, call toll free within the US and Canada: (800) 562-6204.
International inquiries: (949) 769-3200
E-mail: IntraFlow@pro-dex.com |
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