Which injection technique primarily targets the lingual nerve?

The injection technique that primarily targets the lingual nerve is the inferior alveolar nerve block. In this technique, the needle is inserted near the ramus of the mandible, and the solution is deposited near the inferior alveolar nerve, which provides sensory innervation to the mandibular teeth. Crucially, while the primary focus is on blocking the inferior alveolar nerve, the lingual nerve, which runs closely to it, is often anesthetized during this procedure as well. This means that, alongside the nerve responsible for tooth sensation, the lingual nerve—which provides sensation to the floor of the mouth and the anterior two-thirds of the tongue—is also impacted.

This makes the inferior alveolar nerve block particularly effective for procedures involving the lower teeth and areas innervated by the lingual nerve, including surgeries and extractions where achieving adequate anesthesia in the floor of the mouth is essential for patient comfort and pain management. Other techniques listed do not focus on the lingual nerve; they either anesthetize different areas or do not adequately numb the regions served by the lingual nerve, which is why they do not provide the same level of targeted anesthesia for that nerve.