| Local anesthesia refers to the temporary loss of | | | | anesthesia to be administered prior to the surgery. |
| feeling in one part of the body. In this case we are | | | | Some of the other drugs in the solution may contain |
| referring to the dentist injecting a solution inside the | | | | an antioxidant to prevent a breakdown of the |
| mouth so that he or she can work on the patient | | | | vasoconstrictor, sodium hydroxide to adjust the |
| more efficiently. | | | | acidity of the anesthetic so it works more |
| This is good for the patient and the dentist as this | | | | effectively, sodium chloride, to help the solution enter |
| causes the patient to relax so the dentist can focus | | | | the bloodstream more effectively and sometimes |
| on his or her work. | | | | epinephrine which also works to narrow blood vessels |
| - The Options: | | | | to help the anesthetic last longer. |
| Since the beginning of medicine there have been | | | | - How is it administered? |
| drugs that were used to make it easier for doctors | | | | There are two local anesthesia injections a dentist will |
| to perform surgeries. So you can imagine that there | | | | use. There is something called an infiltration injection |
| is no shortage of anesthesia when it comes to the | | | | which numbs a small area and there is a block |
| practice of dentistry. In fact it might surprise you to | | | | injection which numbs a larger region. All of the |
| find out that there are many options available when a | | | | injections are done in the interior of the mouth. |
| dentist is looking to make a dental procedure as | | | | - Side Effects: |
| painless as possible. | | | | Some of the side effects include a numb mouth, |
| - Local Anesthesia: | | | | which is of course the point of the anesthetic in the |
| This is by far the most common type of anesthesia | | | | first place but other effects include dizziness and the |
| used and this article focuses on this type of dental | | | | feeling that you have a fat or swollen lip. Other than |
| anesthesia. In simple terms, a local anesthesia is | | | | that, side effects are very rare, which is part of the |
| performed on a patient when a dentist will numb an | | | | reason the local anesthetic is so popular in dental |
| area with a gel and then, once the numbness has set | | | | procedures. |
| in, inject the general area that will be worked on. The | | | | One possible side effect is hematoma, which is a |
| numbing effect will take place after only three to six | | | | blood filled swelling that can form when the needle |
| minutes and will last from three to four hours. This is | | | | accidentally punctures a blood vessel. You may also |
| certainly a type of anesthesia you may have | | | | feel numbness outside the targeted area and this |
| experience more than once at the dentists office. | | | | may cause drooping in your eyelid or lips. The effects |
| - Lidocaine: | | | | of drooping will disappear when the anesthesia wears |
| The most common local anesthetic used is called | | | | off. Allergic reactions are also rare; however it is |
| lidocaine. Others might include mepivacaine, | | | | important to tell your doctor about any medication |
| bupivacaine and prilocaine. All of the drugs will most | | | | you are taking. |
| likely end with a caine. Procaine, which is commonly | | | | - In Conclusion: |
| known as novacaine is no longer used as the other | | | | Keep in mind that local anesthesia is a very safe |
| drugs mentioned here are more effective as numbing | | | | procedure and your dentist probably has a great deal |
| agent. | | | | of experience administering it to his patients. Rest |
| The Other Drugs in a Local Anesthesia | | | | assured this is a very popular anesthetic for a very |
| The dentist will make a solution for the local | | | | good reason. |