Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Anaphylaxis to Local Anesthetics in Dental Practice

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The absence of a comprehensive understanding of potential anaphylactic reactions to local anesthetics (LAs) and management can result in grave consequences. Aims: To assess Latin American dentists' knowledge, preparedness, and competency in managing anaphylactic reactions to LAs. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. Setting: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and other Latin American countries. Materials and Methods: Board-certified dentists answered a survey comprising 26 structured questions. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were performed in Stata 17.0. Interventions: None. Results: Of 507 respondents, lidocaine was the most frequently used LA (88.1%). While 85.2% could identify dyspnea as a symptom of anaphylaxis, only 50.1% knew the correct route for epinephrine administration, and just 43.5% had epinephrine in their emergency kits. Confidence in managing anaphylactic reactions was low (9.6%). Older age was inversely related to both knowledge of anaphylaxis management and the possession of epinephrine (P=0.003 and P=0.0001, respectively). Discussion: Our study highlights a concerning discrepancy between the practical readiness of Latin American dentists in handling anaphylaxis. Conclusion: The study's findings underscore the need for educational interventions to improve the readiness to identify and handle anaphylactic emergencies in dental practice.