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Dentists sometimes need to perform more extensive procedures that go beyond regular cleanings and exams. To ensure your comfort, local anesthetic medication is used to numb your teeth and gums. While Novocain is a well-known numbing agent, it is no longer used by modern dentists. Instead, safer and more effective drugs like lidocaine are used, often combined with vasoconstrictors to enhance their effectiveness and duration. Dentists typically use two types of local anesthetics: topical anesthetics, which are applied to a small area on the surface of your mouth or gums, and injectable anesthetics, which are used to keep you comfortable and pain-free during the procedure.
What Is Local Anesthesia?
Local anesthesia is used to temporarily numb a small, specific area of your body, preventing you from feeling any sensations, including pain. Procedures such as fillings, crown placement, and root canals often require the use of local anesthesia.
The way local anesthesia works is by blocking the nerve cells in the targeted area, preventing them from sending pain signals to your brain. The numbness caused by the anesthesia typically lasts for two to four hours, so you may still experience some residual numbness after your appointment.
Before undergoing a procedure that requires local anesthesia, we will ask you for information about any allergies you may have and the medications you are currently taking. Depending on your medical conditions, there is a possibility that you may need a different type of anesthesia. If you have any concerns or would like to learn more about how we use local anesthesia, please don't hesitate to give us a call.
What To Expect
Some patients may experience a stinging sensation from the injection, even though they are already numb from the topical anesthetic. This sensation is actually a sign that the anesthetic is starting to take effect as the drug enters the body. However, the stinging feeling usually goes away within a few seconds.
Side Effects
Local anesthesia does have side effects, but they are typically not severe. One common side effect is a temporary increase in heart rate, which can occur if the anesthetic is injected into a blood vessel. This is because one of the chemicals used in the injection, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), can travel directly to the heart. Although the rapid heartbeat may be concerning, it is not harmful and should return to normal within seconds.
Numbness
After your appointment, it will take a few hours for the numbness caused by local anesthesia to go away. During this time, it may be difficult to speak and eat properly. You should be cautious while biting and chewing as you may accidentally bite your tongue or cheek without feeling any pain. Additionally, you might experience temporary swelling or drooping in certain areas of your mouth or face. Some patients may find it difficult to blink, but there is no need to worry. The dentist can help by taping your eye shut to prevent it from drying out. Once the effects of the anesthesia wear off, your blinking will return to normal.