Observing Pain Relief from Dental Nerve Blocks in Adults with Dental Pain in the Emergency Department

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the immediate pain relief provided by dental nerve blocks in adult patients presenting with dental pain in the emergency department ED. This observational cohort study aims to determine whether dental blocks offer a meaningful reduction in pain scores as measured by the Visual Analog Scale VAS within 10 minutes after the procedure. The study is conducted in the Community Regional Medical Center ED and led by the University of California, San Francisco. Emergency medicine faculty, residents, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners trained in dental blocks will perform the procedure using standardized equipment and anesthetic Bupivacaine 0.5%. The study protocol includes administering specific anesthetic volumes to targeted nerve areas, recording pain levels before and after injections, and allowing additional injections if needed. Patients will be asked if they would undergo the dental block procedure again, which is also recorded. Participants will be identified based on their dental pain complaint and consented verbally before enrollment. Data collection includes demographics, pain scores at baseline and after 10 minutes of each block, and procedural details. The primary outcome is the change in pain scores on the VAS, with secondary outcomes assessing patient willingness to repeat the procedure. The study excludes patients unable to consent or complete pain scoring, those with recent dental blocks, or with complicated dental pain. The total participation involves assessments during the ED visit around the dental block procedure.

Dental Block for Pain Relief in ED Dental Pain Patients