Question

During dental work, novocain is often injected into the skin inside the mouth or gums. which specific cranial nerve is affected by novocain if the injection is given on the lower left side of the mouth?

Answer 1

Novocain affects the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V3) when injected into the lower left side of the mouth, blocking nerve impulses to provide pain relief.

Step-by-step explanation:

During dental work, when novocain is injected into the skin inside the mouth or gums specifically on the lower left side, the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V3) is affected by the anesthesia. The mandibular branch provides sensory innervation to the lower teeth, and the injection site for dental anesthesia is typically near the mandibular foramen on the medial side of the ramus of the mandible where the sensory nerve and blood vessels enter. Novocain works by blocking sodium channels that are essential for the propagation of nerve impulses, leading to numbness and pain relief in the targeted area.