Australian Dental Council (ADC) Test 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When applying anesthesia 1 mm above the last lower molars, the long buccal nerve is the one that is typically anesthetized. This nerve provides sensory innervation to the buccal mucosa and skin of the cheek in the area of the molars. Its proximity to the lower molars means that this location of anesthesia application is effective for blocking the sensory innervation supplied by the long buccal nerve, which is crucial during dental procedures involving extraction or treatment of the distal aspect of the lower molars.

In contrast, the lingual nerve primarily provides sensation to the tongue and is located more medially. The inferior alveolar nerve is responsible for the lower lip and teeth and is anesthetized in a different location, usually further posterior to the last molar. The mylohyoid nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, innervates the mylohyoid muscle and a portion of the floor of the mouth, and would also not be anesthetized at the site described. Thus, the correct response directly corresponds with the anatomical pathway and function of the long buccal nerve relative to the site of anesthesia application.