Local anesthesia at the dentist | Anesthesia at the dentist

Local anesthesia at the dentist

The most common form of pain elimination at the dentist is local anesthesia. This involves injecting the local anaesthetic into the tissue surrounding the nerve fibres. The local anaesthetic diffuses to the nerve fibres and temporarily blocks the transmission of pain stimuli.

However, the patient can still feel pressure and movement (e.g. shaking the drill). Depending on the planned treatment and the affected area in the mouth, the dentist can choose between different types of local anesthesia. The surface anaesthesia does not require an injection and is only effective for a very short time and not in deeper tissue layers.

It is therefore rarely used. Infiltration anesthesia is typical for treatments in the upper jaw or lower front tooth area. 1-2 teeth and small areas of the mucous membrane are anaesthetized.

The dentist stabs into the crease between the root of the tooth and the lip. Especially in the area of the maxillary canines, the infiltration anesthesia can also anesthetize the outer part of the nose, lip and cheek. The patient feels a tingling sensation on the skin.

Conduction anesthesia is most commonly used for the lower jaw. 30-50% of the jaw as well as superficial parts of the tongue are anaesthetized. This local anesthesia lasts the longest.Because local anesthesia does not affect consciousness and, when used correctly, has no effect on the cardiovascular system, the patient can leave the dental office directly after the treatment and does not need to be observed first, as is the case with sedation or general anesthesia.

It is recommended that after local anesthesia, eating and drinking should only be resumed when the numbness has subsided, so that one does not injure oneself unnoticed. From a medical point of view, there is no reason why one should not drive after local anesthesia. However, in the case of a traffic control, it can be irritating if speech is impaired or the lip is still hanging down numb.

• The surface anaesthesia does not require a syringe and is only effective for a very short time and not in deeper tissue layers. It is therefore rarely used.
• Infiltration anesthesia is typical for treatments in the upper jaw or lower front tooth region. 1-2 teeth and small areas of the mucous membrane are anaesthetized.

  The dentist stabs into the crease between the root of the tooth and the lip. Especially in the area of the maxillary canines, the infiltration anesthesia can also anesthetize the outer part of the nose, lip and cheek. The patient feels a tingling sensation on the skin.

• Conduction anesthesia is most commonly used for the lower jaw. 30-50% of the jaw as well as superficial parts of the tongue are anaesthetized. This local anesthesia lasts the longest.