When you undergo many dental procedures, our dentists will provide you with a local anesthetic before beginning treatment. This local anesthetic helps to dull pain in part or all of your mouth and may be used in combination with sedation dentistry to provide you with a more comfortable overall experience. Before you receive an anesthetic, speak with our dentists and team about any allergies you have or medications you are taking, including herbal supplements, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs, so that we can ensure that you will be safe.

Local anesthetics are typically used to numb specific areas. They are usually injected through a needle into your gum or inner cheek. When you receive a local anesthetic, our dentists will dry part of your mouth and gently swab the area with a numbing gel prior to injecting the medication. While some patients do not feel the injection needle, others report a “sting” caused by the anesthetic moving into the oral tissues.

The effects of local anesthesia should last for several hours. You may have difficulty chewing or speaking clearly until the numbness wears off. Please be careful when chewing, as you may bite down on the numb area and injure yourself without being aware of it. This is especially important for children — children may chew on or play with the numbed areas of their mouths if unsupervised and can cause significant harm to themselves without feeling pain. Parents should watch their children closely after they have received a local anesthetic.

Contact our office today to learn more about local anesthetics and make your appointment with our dentists.