Tools · Local anesthesia
Maximum dose calculator
Board questions ask you to turn a patient's weight into a maximum dose in milligrams and cartridges. This tool shows every step: mg/kg × weight, capped at the absolute maximum, divided by the mg in one 1.8 mL cartridge, then checked against the vasoconstrictor limit.
Study tool, not for patient care. Clinical dosing follows the product label, your supervising dentist and your state's rules. Use the lowest dose that works.
– cartridges maximum
The numbers behind it
- mg per cartridge = % × 10 × mL. A 1.8 mL cartridge of 2% holds 36 mg; 3% holds 54 mg; 4% holds 72 mg.
- Lidocaine with epinephrine: 7.0 mg/kg, absolute maximum 500 mg (US label/Malamed); children (AAPD) 4.4 mg/kg, maximum 300 mg.
- Mepivacaine: 6.6 mg/kg, maximum 400 mg; children (AAPD) 4.4 mg/kg, maximum 300 mg.
- Epinephrine 1:100,000 = 0.018 mg per cartridge. Healthy adult maximum 0.2 mg per appointment; cardiovascular-compromised 0.04 mg (about 2 cartridges).
- With two anesthetics, the total should not exceed the lower of the two maximums. Divide pounds by 2.2 to get kilograms.
Sources: S14 · S18 (AAPD) · T1 (Malamed). See local anesthetic doses for the full fact list.