A Short Guide to Dental Anesthetics and Sedatives

Dentist office visits are frequently associated with discomfort and pain regardless if you are going in to have a tooth extracted or for a routine cleaning.

However, with the modern advances in medications and dental techniques, you don’t have to be nervous while you are sitting in the dentist’s chair.

The dentist’s primary focus prior to and during the procedure is to ensure that the patient is as comfortable and as relaxed as possible.

This will help to make sure that the most effective and positive results are achieved. There are numerous types of anesthetics for certain dental procedures that will numb the pain or make you unconscious temporarily.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is usually administered in the dentist’s office. It will numb only a small area of the body. For a dental procedure the area is the mouth or gums. Usually a topical anesthetic is applied to the gums with a spray or swab which will help to numb the sting that is the result of the injection.

These injectable anesthetics are use in the area of the gums or mouth that are being treated and they block the nerves which results in the numbing of the tissues in the mouth and therefore kills the pain. Frequently, they are used for the preparation of a crown replacement, during a tooth extraction, for root canals, cavity fillings, and during procedures for tooth restoration.

Dental Sedatives

When you are consciously sedated, you are awake and can respond if someone speaks or touches you but you will stay drowsy and relaxed during the dental procedure. Frequently, sedatives are administered along with pain medications or local anesthetics for tooth extractions, crown replacement, and root canals.

These dental sedatives may be taken in a liquid or pill form or injected or inhaled. Another type of dental sedative is nitrous oxide which is often referred to as laughing gas. This kind of sedation is administered with a mixture of oxygen through a special mask. Lastly, intravenous sedation is commonly administered through a vein in the arm and will make the patient extremely relaxed and much less aware of the procedure that is taking place.

General Anesthesia

There are some dental procedures like dental surgery that is complicated that might require general anesthesia. This type of anesthesia will result in a temporary loss of consciousness, during which the patient is in a deep sleep throughout the procedure and is totally unaware of the procedure being performed. Usually, a dentist will administer general anesthesia if the patient is disabled, is a young child, or can’t control their anxiety and fear.

You should discuss the dental anesthesia options with your dentist to determine which type of anesthetic will work the best for your particular treatment. Make sure that tell your dentist about all of the medications that you may be taking and you need to be honest whenever you are discussing your comfort levels about any dental procedure.

These are some of the anesthetics that are available to make you feel comfortable while you are in the dentist’s chair. There is no longer anything to be afraid of.