The infraorbital nerve block also anesthetizes which areas?

• A. Inferior palpebral, lateral nasal, and superior labial regions
• B. Mental region and chin
• C. Palatal gingiva
• D. Anterior tongue

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is the distribution of the infraorbital nerve after it exits the infraorbital foramen. This nerve, a branch of V2, provides sensation to the midface areas around the eye and mouth. When blocked, it numbs the regions served by its branches: the lower eyelid (inferior palpebral), the side of the nose (lateral nasal), and the upper lip (superior labial). The mental region and chin come from the inferior alveolar/mental nerves (V3), not this nerve. Palatal gingiva is supplied by the greater palatine and nasopalatine nerves, while the anterior tongue is supplied by the lingual nerve, also from V3. So the described areas—inferior palpebral, lateral nasal, and superior labial—are exactly what an infraorbital nerve block anesthetizes.