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Dental anesthesia helps manage pain during dental procedures and surgeries. It blocks painful sensations in specific areas of your mouth.
There are three types of dental anesthesia: local, intravenous conscious sedation, and general. Each type is used for specific pain control purposes.
Dentists typically determine which anesthesia to use based on the procedure, medical history, and patient’s preference. The following describes each type of anesthesia and its use cases:
Local anesthesia is the most common type that begins working in less than 10 minutes. They come in gel, cream, liquid, ointment, spray, patch, and injectable forms.
It’s applied topically or injected into a specific location in your mouth to make parts of it numb. However, you’ll remain conscious and able to communicate throughout the procedure.
The effects typically last for a few hours after the treatment. Doctors administer it during minor dental procedures, such as:
Commonly used dental anesthetics include lidocaine, articaine, prilocaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine. Local anesthetics are also available as prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Anesthesia is used to eliminate pain and discomfort. On the other hand, sedation is typically used to relieve nervousness and anxiety during procedures, reduce pain, and prevent patients from moving.
People with severe anxiety typically need a sedative before receiving an injection of anesthesia, especially if they have a fear of needles. Those with dental phobia often visit sedation dentists to receive care.
Sedation can be administered in three different strengths:
One of the most popular options for sedation is nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Other examples include diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), and propofol (Diprivan).
General anesthesia results in a temporary loss of consciousness. It’s used for longer procedures or if someone cannot tolerate dental treatment under local anesthesia or sedation.
This type of anesthesia is often referred to as a medically induced coma. You will be unresponsive during the entire procedure and not feel any pain.
The difference between general anesthesia and IV conscious sedation is your ability to respond and breathe on your own. The medication is normally inhaled or administered intravenously.
General anesthesia is also typically administered to patients in a hospital setting undergoing invasive oral surgeries, including:
People who are afraid of needles (have trypanophobia) or have general anxiety often avoid local anesthetics during dental procedures, even though those anesthetics would make the experience more comfortable.
The primary benefits of anesthesia include:
It’s important to know that anesthesia is not a medication to put you to sleep. This means you will remain conscious during the procedure (except general anesthesia).
Dental anesthesia is a common and safe treatment. Before administration, the dentist should be aware of your full medical history, alcohol abuse history, and any allergies to avoid complications.
Side effects are rare and are usually only felt with sedation or general anesthesia. These may include:
Anesthesia is considered a safe, effective, and necessary component of dental care. However, certain groups are at a higher risk for adverse effects.
Those who should speak to a dental office or anesthesiologist before using anesthesia include:
Though complications are rare, there are some risks involved in dental anesthesia. Potential adverse reactions and complications include:
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