Efficacy of Targeted Maxillary Nerve Blocks in Complex Dental Extractions: A Comparative Analysis of Patient Pain Thresholds and Post-Operative Recovery

Original Research | 2026 | Volume 3 | Issue 2 | Page 9-15

1. Dr. Snigdha Sharma, PG Student, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, People's Dental Academy, Bhopal

2. Dr. Vidharti Tiwari, Associate professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College, Indore

3. Dr. Utkarsh Tiwari, Professor and HOD, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mansarovar Dental College, Bhopal

Corresponding Author:-

Efficacy of Targeted Maxillary Nerve Blocks in Complex Dental Extractions: A Comparative A.

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Dr. Utkarsh Tiwari

Professor and HOD

Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry

Mansarovar Dental College, Bhopal.

Abstract

Introduction: Achieving profound anesthesia in the maxillary arch is often complicated by dense cortical bone and accessory innervation, frequently leading to breakthrough pain during complex extractions. While local infiltration is standard, targeted Maxillary Nerve Blocks (MNB) via the greater palatine canal or high tuberosity approach offer a more extensive field of anesthesia. This study evaluates the efficacy of MNB compared to conventional infiltration in terms of pain thresholds and recovery kinetics.

Methodology: A comparative clinical analysis was conducted on 60 patients requiring complex maxillary posterior extractions (molar extractions or impactions). Participants were divided into two groups: Group A received a targeted Maxillary Nerve Block, and Group B received Local Infiltration (2% Lidocaine with 1:80,000 Adrenaline). Primary outcomes included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for intra-operative pain, the volume of anesthetic required, and the speed of post-operative functional recovery.

Results: Group A (MNB) demonstrated significantly lower intra-operative VAS scores (2.1 \pm 0.8) compared to Group B (4.5/pm 1.2, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the MNB group required a lower mean volume of anesthetic and reported a faster return to normal speech and mastication due to the precision of the block.

Conclusion: Targeted Maxillary Nerve Blocks provide superior pain control and improved clinical efficiency for complex dental extractions. By elevating the patient’s pain threshold and minimizing the need for supplemental injections, MNB represents a more effective anesthetic strategy for advanced maxillofacial procedures.