Complications Local anesthetic complications Spread of infection Failing to adequately drain the abscess Equipment Dental chair or a stretcher Light source for intraoral illumination Sterile gloves Mask and safety glasses, or a face shield Gauze pads Cotton-tipped applicators Dental mirror or tongue blade Suction Antiseptic oral rinse (eg, chlorhexidine, 0.12%) Scalpels (#11 or #15 blade) Retractors (eg, Minnesota cheek retractor or tongue retractor) Needle driver Hemostat Suture (eg, 3 - 0 silk or other soft nonabsorbable suture) Penrose drain (1 cm) or substitute (eg, strip cut from a sterile glove) Equipment to do local anesthesia: Topical anesthetic ointment * (eg, lidocaine 5%, benzocaine 20%) Injectable local anesthetic such as lidocaine 2% with or without epinephrine † 1: 100, 000, or for longer duration anesthesia, bupivacaine 0.5% with or without epinephrine † 1: 200, 000 Dental aspirating syringe (with narrow barrel and custom injectable anesthetic cartridges) or other narrow barrel syringe (eg, 3 mL) with locking hub 25 - or 27-gauge needle: 2 cm long for supraperiosteal infiltration; 3 cm long for nerve blocks * CAUTION: All topical anesthetic preparations are absorbed from mucosal surfaces and toxicity may result when dose limits are exceeded.