Alexander, Y. Z. Li
Steven, W. Wang
Brian, P. Ford
| Alexander, Y. Z. Li | Steven, W. Wang | Brian, P. Ford |
Alexander Y. Z. Li, Steven W. Wang, Brian, P. Ford
Brian P. Ford
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Introduction
The current methodology of providing local anesthesia to third molar patients involves high outputs of dangerous sharps and overhead costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate disposable Luer-Lock syringes as an alternative to reduce costs, times, and hazards in third molar surgery.
Methods
This is a prospective cohort study which was conducted in patients who required the removal of all third molars were offered to have local anesthesia administered by oral and maxillofacial surgeons with either stainless steel harpoon gun (re)loaded with dental carpules or Luer-Lock syringes aspirated from anesthetic vials. 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine was selected as the local anesthetic in this study due to its relative safety and rare complications compared to other anesthetics. For each patient, the time it takes to inject equal volumes of anesthetic was recorded for each method. In addition, the cost to purchase anesthetic per millimeter, and the cost to sterilize instruments and dispose wastes were calculated for each method.
Results
Of all patients currently enrolled in this study, the average time it takes for local anesthesia administration were 64 seconds and 112 seconds, the cost of local anesthesia were $4.57 and $51.49, and the hazard disposal cost for the “plastic” and “harpoon” methods were $40 and $0, respectively.
Conclusion
The use of disposable Luer-Lock syringes for third molar surgery is more superior than the use of stainless-steel harpoon gun as it is has lower overhead costs, faster anesthesia times, and lower disposable wastes. Therefore, it is recommended that oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dental practitioners consider switching to a more sustainable methodology of providing local anesthesia with Luer-Lock syringes and anesthetic vials.