Dental Anesthesia: Types, Practices & Effects
When there is a need to go under the knife for dental work, dentists use dental anesthesia to ward off pain.
Whether it is an oral surgery or a cosmetic procedure, many patients are able to calm their nerves due to it. Patient relaxes their minds, thinking they won't feel a throbbing pain or discomfort.
Dental anesthesia doesn't work like normal anesthesia, as it is only applied to the affected area, and the patient may or may not be unconscious.
In this guide, you will get the answers to questions like how long does it take for dental anesthesia to wear off and more!
Key Takeaways
Roughly 10 to 30 percent of people diagnosed with a dental disorder try to avoid procedures due to dental anxiety. In many cases, dentophobia can worsen the situation.
People started using anesthesia even before the Eifel Tower was made in Paris.
The duration of anesthesia required for various dental treatments varies. Therefore, there is no universally applicable answer for how long your mouth will remain numb post-surgery.
The duration of the numbing sensation is dependent on various factors, including your body's ability to metabolize the anesthesia quickly and your height and weight.
Dental anesthesia like Novacaine takes 3 to 4 hours to wear off completely.
For dental anesthesia to wear off quickly, massage your face, ask the doctor for a reversal injection, get involved in physical activity, or take a nap.
Types of Dental Anesthesia
Before going to the doctor for treatment, it is better to be informed of the dental anesthesia the dentist will use on you.
Here is a brief summary of the types of dental anesthesia:
Local Anesthesia
Example: Lidocaine
Used For: Cavity filling
Starting from the most common, this form of dental anesthesia reduces sensation while the patient remains awake.
Before injecting it into your gumline, the dentist may use a topical anesthetic.
Common Example of Local Anesthesia
One brand of procaine is Novocaine.
This medication is commonly used as a local anesthetic to numb a particular body area.
For the following minor treatments, your dentist may use Novocaine or another brand of dental anesthesia to ensure little to no pain throughout the procedure:
A cavity filling
Extraction of wisdom teeth
Additional minor dental surgery
2.Sedation Dentistry
It makes the patient sleep during the process as it has deeper effects. The dentists can use it alone or couple it with a local anesthetic to provide comfort to the patient.
The types are as follows:
Oral Sedation
Prior to the surgery, the patient takes a medicine orally by the surgeon or dentist.
Depending on the dosage, sedation might range from minimal to deep. The patient may feel dizzy with minimal sedation, but they will still be fully conscious.
The patient may fall asleep with moderate to deep sedation, but waking up should be simple.
During the process, the patient under oral sedation is still able to comply with the dentist's instructions.
Sedation IV
An intravenous sedation delivery mechanism is another option. One benefit of IV sedation is that the oral surgeon or dentist can change the sedative as needed.
The patient under IV sedation will be only slightly aware and unlikely to remember the actual surgery.
To practice sedation dentistry, one must have further training and a license.
Nitrous Oxide
Used for: Surgical procedure
Mix laughing gas, commonly known as nitrous oxide, with a local anesthetic. Through a nitrous oxide mask, the patient inhales the gas.
The mask is kept in place throughout the surgery on the patient's nose. After sedation, the patient doesn’t lose consciousness.
How Long Does it Take for Dental Anesthesia to Wear Off
The dental anesthesia may cause the tooth to go numb for one to two hours.
The lips, face, and tongue can go numb for the next three to five hours, which might be annoying if you try to resume regular activities right after your session.
Yet, there is no specific answer to how long does it take for dental anesthesia to wear off. Different types of dental anesthesia will have diversified results.
Side Effects of Dental Anesthesia
Although they are rare, side effects from local dental anesthesia can happen on occasion. It is very typical to experience numbness beyond the affected mouth area.
Your cheek or eyelid muscles may droop as a result of the medication, for example, after receiving a local injection to the gums.
This numbness goes away when the anesthesia wears off. Here's a couple more:
Inability to blink: To prevent it from drying out, your dentist can tape closed one of your eyelids until the numbness from dental anesthesia disappears.
Hematoma: A hematoma is a swelling filled with blood that can occur when an injection needle punctures a blood vessel.
Racing heartbeat: For a brief period of time, the vasoconstrictor medication of dental anesthesia may cause your heart rate to accelerate. If you see this, make sure to let your doctor know.
Damage to the nerves: If a needle punctures a nerve, weeks or months may pass before numbness and agony subside. The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) states that nerve injury following a regional injection is extremely uncommon.
How To Avoid the Side Effects
The best defense against any adverse effects from dental anesthetic is to reduce the likelihood of problems that call for a desensitizing agent. Maintaining dental health requires brushing, flossing, and eating a balanced diet.
Also, once you get treatment, make a habit of going for regular dental checkups.
FAQs
What reverses numbness caused by dental anesthesia?
Anesthesia reversal medication OraVerse can restore normal sensation and function to the patient roughly 50% of the time.
What are the side effects of dental anesthesia?
Headache, vomiting, sweating, lethargy, slurred speech, sore throat, and grogginess can be the side effects of dental anesthesia.
In what cases does the use of dental anesthesia become risky?
People who are obese, pregnant, suffer from sleep apnea, heart ailments, or neurological conditions should talk to the doctor to guarantee a positive outcome.
Summary
Whether it's Novocaine or any other local dental anesthesia, these drugs don't have serious side effects when used carefully.
To feel less anxious before the procedure, you can discuss all your concerns with KWC Dental.
Share your medical history with us, and we will choose the best option for you!