How much local anesthetic is there in a dental cartridge of 3% concentration?

To determine the amount of local anesthetic in a dental cartridge with a concentration of 3%, it's important to understand the relationship between concentration, volume, and the amount of anesthetic.

A standard dental cartridge typically contains 1.8 mL of solution. The concentration of 3% means that there are 3 grams of substance in every 100 mL of solution. To convert this to milligrams, you recognize that 3 grams is equivalent to 3000 mg. Therefore, for every 100 mL (which is 100,000 mg), 3% would mean that in 1 mL, there are 30 mg of the local anesthetic.

Now, since we have a 1.8 mL cartridge, we multiply the concentration per mL (30 mg) by the volume of the cartridge:

30 mg/mL × 1.8 mL = 54 mg

This demonstrates that there are 54 mg of local anesthetic in a dental cartridge with a concentration of 3%. This calculation confirms the answer.

Understanding this calculation is fundamental for dental professionals as it aids in safely and effectively managing local anesthesia during procedures.