Regional anesthesia of the infraorbital and inferior alveolar nerves during noninvasive tooth pulp stimulation in halothane-anesthetized cats

Objective-To determine whether anesthesia of the infraorbital and inferior alveolar nerves abolishes reflex-evoked muscle action potentials (REMP) dur ing tooth-pulp stimulation in halothane-anesthetized cats. Animals-8 healthy adult cats. Procedure-in halothane-anesthetized cats, an anodal electrode was attached to the tooth to be stimulated and a platinum needle cathodal electrode was inserted in adjacent gingival mucosa. Cathodal and anodal electrodes were m oved to the upper and lower canine, upper fourth premolar, and lower first molar teeth for stimulation; baseline REMP was recorded. A 25-gauge 1-cm ne edle was inserted 0.5 cm into the infraorbital canal. A 25-gauge 1-cm needl e was inserted 1 cm rostral to the angular process of the ramus, and advanc ed 0.5 cm along the medial aspect. Chloroprocaine was injected at each site . Each tooth was stimulated every 10 minutes for 90 minutes. Results-REMP was abolished within 10 minutes for all upper teeth, except fo r the upper canine tooth in 1 cat, and abolished within 10 minutes for lowe r teeth in 4 cats. In 1 cat, REMP was not abolished in the lower first mola r tooth. In 3 cats, REMP was not abolished in the lower canine and first mo lar teeth. At 90 minutes, REMP was restored for all teeth except the lower canine tooth in 1 cat, for which REMP was restored at 120 minutes. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Regional anesthesia of the infraorbital and inferior alveolar nerves may provide dental analgesia in cats.