Nerve blocks for regional anesthesia of the face.

Many trauma repairs and dermatologic procedures performed on the face require anesthesia of the involved area. The specific requirements for anesthesia and vasoconstriction vary, depending on the location, size and depth of the injury or lesion. Direct infiltration of anesthetic is very uncomfortable, and adequate anesthesia may require multiple injections. In addition, direct infiltration of a volume of anesthetic sufficient to produce adequate anesthesia can cause distortion of the tissue, hindering the identification of margins. Intraoral nerve blocks routinely used by dentists can achieve safe and effective regional anesthesia in the anterior portion of the face.