At the dentist | What is a short anaesthetic?

At the dentist

A short anaesthetic for dental procedures is the exception rather than the rule. To be able to perform a short anaesthesia, the dental surgery must have a special operating area and work with an anaesthesiologist who monitors the circulatory functions during the anaesthesia. In addition, short anaesthesia is only useful for treatments lasting up to about 15 minutes. Dental treatment requiring such an anaesthetic usually takes longer. For this reason, dentists are more likely to use sedatives, or a proper general anaesthetic.

Advantage of short anaesthesia

The advantage of short anaesthesia is that during short procedures consciousness and pain sensation can be very effectively switched off for a short time. At the same time, short anaesthesia is not as stressful as general anaesthesia. This is also due to the fact that due to the short duration of the anaesthesia, not as many anaesthetics have to be given. During the anaesthesia, the airway must be secured, but ventilation via a mask is usually sufficient. This has the advantage that one does not have to take the risks of ventilation with a breathing tube, such as injury to structures in the trachea or the vocal chords.

Disadvantages, risks and side effects of short anaesthesia

A short anaesthesia is associated with much lower risks than a general anaesthesia. Nevertheless, it is an intervention that should not be underestimated. At the skin site of the venous access, secondary bleeding can occur or the veins can be irritated by the anesthetic.

Thus, even a few days after the short anaesthetic, pain can still occur at this point. In most cases the patient is ventilated with a mask during the short anaesthesia. However, if the ventilation with the mask is not sufficient, the anesthetist inserts a so-called laryngeal mask into the throat.

This mask encloses the area above the larynx with a soft cushion. It is far less invasive than a breathing tube.Nevertheless, pain in the neck area may still occur a few days after the short anaesthetic, which is caused by the irritated mucous membrane. During the short anaesthesia it is very important that the patient is completely fasting.

During the procedure, gastric juice may rise and flow through the trachea into the lungs. If only gastric juice is involved, this is not quite as dangerous as if leftover food were to enter the lungs. This can lead to pneumonia. After the short anaesthesia the patient should be supervised by a second person for 24 hours. In addition, no machines may be operated and no one may participate in road traffic.