OraVerse: Anesthesia Reversal Agent

Local anesthesia is foundational in dentistry, ensuring that patients experience comfortable, pain-free care during operative and surgical procedures. However, the lingering numbness that follows can be inconvenient and, at times, problematic. Extended loss of soft-tissue sensation of the lips, cheeks, and tongue can interfere with speech, mastication, and facial expression, and can lead to accidental biting injuries, especially among children and special-needs individuals. OraVerse (phentolamine mesylate) provides a pharmacologic solution to this longstanding challenge. It is the first and only FDA-approved drug designed to actively reverse soft-tissue anesthesia following dental procedures performed with local anesthetics containing vasoconstrictors. By restoring normal blood flow to the anesthetized tissues, OraVerse accelerates the clearance of anesthetic agents, allowing patients to return to normal function more quickly and safely. This continuing education course provides an in-depth look at the pharmacology, mechanism of action, indications, dosage, administration, contraindications, and safety of OraVerse. It also summarizes supporting clinical research and offers guidance for patient communication, documentation, and ethical use.