Where is the lingual infiltration injection site for tooth 13?

Where is the lingual infiltration injection site for tooth 13?

• A. The attached gingiva 5-10 mm from the free gingival margin
• B. The interdental papilla
• C. The buccal mucosa adjacent to the tooth
• D. The palatal mucosa near the tooth

Answer: (A)

Lingual infiltration targets the tooth from the tongue side, so the anesthetic is deposited in the lingual attached gingiva near the tooth’s root to diffuse through the thin lingual bone to the apex. The best location for this is the attached gingiva on the lingual aspect, about 5–10 mm from the free gingival margin. Injecting here places the solution in stable, non-movable tissue close to the tooth, promoting effective diffusion with minimal tissue trauma. Other sites described—interdental papilla, buccal mucosa, or palatal mucosa—serve different techniques and do not place the anesthetic where it can reliably numb the tooth from the lingual side.

Lingual infiltration targets the tooth from the tongue side, so the anesthetic is deposited in the lingual attached gingiva near the tooth’s root to diffuse through the thin lingual bone to the apex. The best location for this is the attached gingiva on the lingual aspect, about 5–10 mm from the free gingival margin. Injecting here places the solution in stable, non-movable tissue close to the tooth, promoting effective diffusion with minimal tissue trauma. Other sites described—interdental papilla, buccal mucosa, or palatal mucosa—serve different techniques and do not place the anesthetic where it can reliably numb the tooth from the lingual side.