Development of a Computer-Based Dental Anesthetic Dosage Calculator

The safety of dental local anesthetics is largely dependent on observation of appropriate dosages. Objectives: This project was designed to develop a software-based pre-treatment tool to assist in determining maximum local anesthetic doses in individual patients and for a variety of local anesthetics. Methods: The top ten FDA-approved dental local anesthetics were selected and analyzed for their respective ASA classification-based (American Society of Anesthesiologists) maximum dosages for both vasoconstrictor and local anesthetic agent. Drug specifications were placed into software that accounted for local anesthetic type, patient weight (in pounds or kilograms), ASA classification, and whether the subject was a pediatric or adult patient. This alpha software was refined by a second software designer to construct a more usable beta version which is both more suitable for internet usage and tamperproof. Currently, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) version of this software (termed “EasyNesth”) is being constructed for easier provider usage. Results: Successful alpha & beta software programs have been formulated that accurately establish guidelines for maximum dosages of anesthetics and vasoconstrictors. It calculates the maximum dosage of local anesthetic itself as well as the vasoconstrictor and chooses the lesser of the two options as the maximum dosage. This calculation takes into account the health status and weight of the patient. Creators of the software are now able to adjust dosages and drug specifications as they change with research and experimentation. Conclusions: A software tool is now in existence that accurately portrays the baseline maximum local anesthetic dosage and helps make dental treatment safer. Further research on the implementation of this software will determine its actual effect on patient care, particularly in regard to observation of maximum dosages to further protect dentistry's history of excellence in effective pain control and patient safety. This research was partially funded by an AADR Research Fellowship.