Ocular complications associated with inferior dental nerve block: A systematic review

Ocular complications associated with anesthesia of the lower dental nerve may arise during or after administration of the local anesthetic, whether temporary or permanent. This situation generates concern for both the clinician and the patient. The purpose of this article is to identify ocular complications related to lower dental nerve block, analyzing signs, symptoms, gender, age, type of procedure, and duration of complications. Methods: In September 2023, we conducted a systematic review using various databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, using relevant search terms. There were no restrictions on the date or language of the articles. Results: We identified 39 articles that met the selection criteria, covering an analysis of 45 cases. Complications showed a higher incidence in women, with 65.11 %, compared to 34.8 % in men. The most frequent ocular complications reported were diplopia (44 %), amaurosis (28 %) and eyelid ptosis (17.77 %). Conclusions: Ocular complications related to lower tooth nerve block are rare, but they can occur. A higher incidence is observed in women than in men, and there is no specific age that predominates in its appearance. Diplopia is the most common ocular complication, followed by amaurosis, eyelid ptosis, and blurred vision. These complications may manifest during the infiltration of the anesthetic, immediately after the procedure, or a few hours later.