Dental Anesthesia Types, Benefits & Applications

Different applications of anesthesia in dentistry offer numerous benefits that are specific to each type, as explained here by Dentistry in Streetsville, located in Mississauga, Ontario.

Anesthesia is the administration of drugs by injection or gases by inhalation to artificially induce a state of deep relaxation in a patient, which thereby creates insensitivity to pain during dental or surgical procedures. Dental anesthesia is commonly used in dentistry for a range of procedures to ease a patient’s anxiety and ensure a dental procedure is pain-free. There are two main types of anesthesia in use in dentistry today: general and local. Each serves a different purpose.

Local anesthesia is used to numb a specific region of the teeth and gums to prevent the patient from feeling any discomfort during a dental procedure. There are two types of local anesthesia: topical and injectable. Topical anesthetics desensitize the surface of the gums. This form is applied with a swab, spray or adhesive patch and often precedes the administration of the injectable form. Topical anesthetics help to deaden the feeling of a prick or sting, such as from an injection. Injectable anesthetics are used to stop pain in the region of the mouth where the dental procedure is to be conducted, such as for a filling, preparing teeth for crowns or restorative treatments, and so on. The injectable form is used to block nerve endings and numb the mouth tissues in the region where the procedure will be done.

General anesthesia differs from local anesthesia in that it induces a lack of consciousness and induces a deep sleep in the patient. This form of anesthesia might be used in cases of prolonged or complicated dental procedures, such as surgical tooth extractions. It might also be used for those patients who suffer from extreme (or even uncontrollable) anxiety, as well as for children or for those with disabilities who are unable to control their actions.

The use of either local or general anesthesia will depend on a range of factors concerning the type of procedure, The mental temperament of the patient, and the physical state of the patient, which will include matters concerning the patient’s health profile and whether they are using any medications or sedatives.

In addition to general and local anesthesia, options will sometimes exist in methods of “conscious sedation,” which is meant to calm a patient and reduce pain, prior to, during and after a dental procedure. Such means (such as anti-anxiety agents or sedatives) can induce a feeling of drowsiness while the patient remains awake and responsive. The two methods of conscious sedation are nitrous oxide ( often referred to as “laughing gas”) and oral sedation. Here, too, either of these forms might be used based on the profile of the patient and the practitioner’s recommendations for safety and effectiveness.

If you have concerns about pain or discomfort while at our office, or are facing the prospect of a dental procedure That concerns you. Dentistry in Streetsville welcomes you to make an appointment for an evaluation and to discuss your concerns.

Contact us by calling 905-821-8221 or emailing reception@dentistryinstreetsville.com. Dentistry in Streetsville is located at 100 Queen Street South, Suite 101, in Mississauga. Also, visit us on Facebook and Instagram at DentistryInStreetsville.