What are short needles primarily used for in dental procedures?

Short needles are primarily used for administering anesthesia for infiltration injections on the maxillary arch due to the anatomical considerations of the area. The maxillary arch has thinner bone structure and shorter distances to target nerves, making short needles sufficient for effective anesthesia. Infiltration injections are commonly utilized in the maxilla because they allow for a localized effect in the targeted area, which is critical during dental procedures such as restorative work on maxillary teeth.

On the other hand, block injections on the mandibular arch typically require longer needles. This is because the mandibular nerve is located deeper within the tissues, necessitating a longer length to reach the correct anatomical landmarks effectively. Therefore, while short needles have their specific application in infiltration on the maxillary teeth, they are not suitable for block injections, which is why administering anesthesia for block injection on the mandibular arch does not align with the primary use of short needles.