Craniometric Analysis of a Cat and Clinical Significance in Performing Dental Nerve Blocks

Abstract

Dental nerve blocks represent an important segment of pain management during dental procedures in veterinary medicine due to their rapid onset of action, affordability and simple execution. Four different dental nerve blocks have been described in cats: infraorbital, maxillary, inferior alveolar (mandibular) and middle mental block. Considering the size of a cat's head and location of important anatomical structures, iatrogenic trauma can happen very easily while performing dental nerve blocks. This study aimed to investigate morphometric details of the skull and mandible nerve foramina as crucial structures for the precise administration of local anesthetics. The research included skulls and mandibles of 12 domestic shorthair cats. The morphometric analysis was performed on 20 parameters. Our study revealed smaller values (6.25 ± 0.31 mm) for the distance from the infraorbital canal to the root of premolar compared to Persian and Australian domestic cats. The present study provided a valuable information about the location of the cranial nerves on the skull and mandible of the domestic shorthair cats, which can be useful during dental procedures.