infiltration anesthesia

medicine

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Infiltration anesthesia is a type of local anesthesia used in medicine to numb a specific, limited area of the body. It involves injecting an anesthetic agent, such as lidocaine, directly into the tissue to block nerve signals and prevent the sensation of pain. This method is effective for minor surgical procedures and dental work, providing a loss of sensation in a superficial area without affecting consciousness. Unlike general anesthesia, which affects the entire body and consciousness, local anesthesia targets only the site of administration.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

anesthetic
Local anesthetics
This is called infiltration anesthesia. Some local anesthetics are applied directly to mucous membranes, such as those of the nose, throat, larynx, and urethra or those of the conjunctiva of the eye. This is called surface or topical anesthesia. A familiar example of topical anesthesia is
Read More
This is called infiltration anesthesia. Some local anesthetics are applied directly to mucous membranes, such as those of the nose, throat, larynx, and urethra or those of the conjunctiva of the eye. This is called surface or topical anesthesia. A familiar example of topical anesthesia is
Read More