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Local Anesthesia for Teeth | Types and Side Effects
Your dentist may need to use local anesthesia to numb an area of your mouth while performing certain dental procedures. This is done by injecting a medication—known as a local anesthetic—into the inside of your cheek or gums. These days, dentists most commonly use lidocaine, and many professionals now use newer anesthetic agents that work more effectively and last longer.
Modern local anesthetics are also much less likely to cause allergic reactions compared with Novocain. The numbing agent itself is only one component of what’s injected during your dental visit; the anesthetic solution typically also contains additional substances, such as:
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The Most Common Types of Local Anesthesia for Teeth
When you undergo a procedure that requires local anesthesia, your dentist will first prepare your mouth by drying the area with cotton rolls or air. They may also apply a topical numbing gel to the site where the injection will be given to make the injection more comfortable—this can be especially helpful if you’re nervous about needles.
Your dentist will then inject the local anesthetic into the targeted area. You’ll rarely feel the needle itself; what most people notice is a brief stinging or burning sensation as the medication enters the tissues. The numbness can last for several hours, which means you may have difficulty speaking clearly or eating for up to about seven hours after the injection.
Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth that was numbed until full sensation returns, as you could accidentally bite or injure your cheek, tongue, or lip without realizing it.
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Common Side Effects of Dental Local Anesthesia
Local anesthetics are among the most frequently used medications in dental offices, and it’s very uncommon for patients to experience serious adverse reactions. However, some rare side effects associated with dental local anesthesia can occur, including:
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What Is Local Anesthesia?
A local anesthetic is injected to prevent you from feeling pain in a specific area of your mouth during dental procedures such as fillings, tooth extractions, crowns, dental emergencies, or gum disease treatment. Local anesthesia keeps you comfortable during treatment by blocking the nerves in that area from sending pain signals to your brain.
How Long Does It Last?
In general, local anesthetics work quickly and do not last extremely long. For example, the numbing effect of lidocaine usually begins within about five minutes or less after injection and lasts for roughly one to two hours.
Many local anesthetic solutions also contain epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), which constricts blood vessels in the area and can help prolong the anesthetic effect by up to about an additional hour.
