RABÊLO, H. T. L. B.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7726940323323458; RABÊLO, Hannah Taynnan de Lima Bezerra.
Abstract:
Local anesthetics are chemical substances capable of reversibly blocking the transmission of
nerve impulses where it is applied and are fundamental in the field of dentistry for the control
of pain triggered by oral disorders and clinical and surgical treatments. The objective was to
review the literature on the main local anesthetics used in dentistry. The present study deals
with a narrative review carried out between January and March 2018. The databases for
literature search were Scielo, Pubmed, Web of Science, Bireme. The keywords used in the
literature search were Local Anesthetics, Mechanisms of Action, Pharmacology, Dentistry,
Structure-activity Relationship, Sodium Channels, present in DeCS. Cocaine was the first
compound to be used as a local anesthetic and it was from this that the new anesthetics were
developed. Local anesthetics have in their molecular structure an aromatic ring, an intermediate
chain and an amine group, they act on the neurons, their site of action are the voltage-dependent
sodium channels, to which they bind reversibly, abolishing neuronal excitability. The
classification of local anesthetics is defined as regards chemical structure and duration of action,
the main ones being used in dentistry lidocaine, mepivacaine, articaine, prilocaine, bupivacaine
hydrochloride. According to the literature reviewed, it is necessary for the dental surgeon to
know about the individual pharmacological characteristics of the local anesthetics and the
patient's systemic ones for a correct choice, since their use is variable for each user, and
inappropriate manipulation of these drugs can lead to serious risks to the patient's health.