title: Local anesthetics: dentistry's most important drugs.
abstract: One hundred and fifty years ago, Horace Wells opened the door to local anesthetics. Since then, many advances have been made in pain control. The development of dentistry's most important drugs is highlighted here.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anesthesia and Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-0641.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Malamed
mesh_terms: D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000266:history*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000266:history*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000266:history; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000266:history; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000266:history; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D008619:Mepivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine