Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided peripheral mandibular nerve block: A systematic review

The inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is commonly used in dentistry for pain management before and after dental procedures. Traditional nerve block techniques can sometimes be associated with complications such as anesthetic failure and nerve damage. Ultrasound-guided (USG) nerve blocks have emerged as a promising alternative. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of USG mandibular nerve blocks in pain control in adults.

A systematic search of English literature was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases. Articles published between 2020 and September 2024 were selected based on a set of preestablished inclusion criteria. These articles were analyzed according to the PRISMA-2020 guidelines to seek evidence of effective pain management following USG IANB.

Seven articles including 193 patients and 176 ultrasound scans met the eligibility criteria. The included studies reported the effectiveness of USG mandibular nerve blocks by using various pain measurement scales. In addition, other indirect measures of pain control, such as maximum mouth opening, were used.

This systematic review showed that USG IANB can effectively manage pain in adult patients undergoing specific dental surgical procedures including third molar extraction. Furthermore, it can provide relief for those suffering from chronic orofacial pain associated with conditions, such as temporomandibular disorders.