Local Anaesthesia

Local Anesthesia at MyDentist

At MyDentist, we prioritize your comfort during every procedure. While you may have heard of Novocain, modern dentistry utilizes safer and more effective local anesthetics like Lidocaine. These are often combined with vasoconstrictors to enhance their effectiveness and duration. We use two types of local anesthetics to ensure a pain-free experience. First, a topical anesthetic is applied to numb the surface of your mouth or gums, typically before administering an injectable anesthetic. This injectable anesthetic is crucial for keeping you comfortable throughout your dental treatment.

Understanding Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is a safe and effective method to temporarily eliminate sensation, including pain, in a specific area of your body. Common dental procedures that require local anesthesia include fillings, crown placements, and root canals. The anesthetic works by blocking nerve cells from transmitting pain signals to the brain. The numbing effect typically lasts for two to four hours, and you may experience residual numbness after your appointment. Before any procedure requiring local anesthesia, we will gather information about your allergies and current medications. This helps us determine the most suitable anesthetic formula for your specific needs. If you have any concerns or questions about local anesthesia, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

What to Expect During Anesthesia

While the topical anesthetic minimizes discomfort, you may feel a brief stinging sensation during the injection of the local anesthetic. This sensation is normal and indicates that the anesthetic is beginning to take effect. The stinging will subside within seconds, and you will soon experience complete numbness in the treated area.

Potential Side Effects

Local anesthesia is generally very safe, and side effects are typically mild and temporary. One possible side effect is a temporary increase in heart rate, which can occur if the anesthetic is inadvertently injected into a blood vessel. This is due to epinephrine, a vasoconstrictor also known as adrenaline, which is sometimes included in the anesthetic solution. While a rapid heartbeat can be alarming, it is not dangerous and will return to normal within seconds.

Managing Numbness After Your Appointment

The numbness from local anesthesia will gradually wear off over a couple of hours, which may temporarily affect your ability to speak and eat normally. It’s important to be cautious when biting and chewing after your appointment to avoid accidentally injuring your tongue or cheek. You may also experience temporary swelling or drooping of parts of your mouth or face. In rare cases, some patients may find it difficult to blink. If this occurs, we can tape your eye shut to