Evaluation of the effect of different anesthesia techniques on ocular structures with optical coherence tomography

Aim: The aim of our research is to evaluate, the effects of different dental anesthesia techniques applied in the dentistry clinic, on the ocular region, using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) device. The use of anesthesia method, which has less effect in the ocular region, will reduce the frequency of complications that may occur. Material and Method: 80 patients aged 18-50 years were included in our study. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the anesthesia method to be applied. Group Ⅰ was Inferior Alveolar (n=20), group Ⅱ Tuber (PSA) (n=20), group Ⅲ Supraperiosteal Infiltration (n=20), group Ⅳ Infraorbital (n=20) anesthesia. Changes in retinal and choroidal vascular structures of patients in all groups, before and after anesthesia, were examined with the Topcon Swept Source OCT-Angiography device. Results: The mean age of 80 patients participating in the study was 24.53±7.01. A total of 42 male and 38 female patients participated in the study. The mean choroidal thicknesses of the patients measured according to the groups before anesthesia were found to be 300(µm), 305.5(µm), 319.5(µm), 302.5(µm), respectively (p=0.642). After anesthesia, the same groups were measured as 298(µm), 296(µm), 310(µm), 299(µm) (p=0.907). Although choroidal thickness decreased in different groups after dental anesthesia application, this change was not statistically significant (p=0.838). Retinal vascular densities of the patients, which were examined with the OCTA device before anesthesia, were 40%, 42%, 41%, and 41.5%, respectively, according to the groups (p=0.166). Post-anesthesia measurements were 40%, 41%, 41%, 40% (p=0.394). Therefore, the retinal vascular density difference value measured before and after anesthesia is not statistically significant (0.143). Conclusion: Dental anesthesia applications performed with negative aspiration do not cause any changes in the vascular structures of the eye if there is no anatomical variation in the patient. Key Words: Dental anesthesia, choroid, OCT, OCTA, ocular complication, retina.