Lidocaine, or Novocain, the numbing agent used in dental procedures, is just one of several local anesthetics a dentist may use to help reduce or eliminate pain. There are two types of numbing injections often used: one is a block injection which numbs an entire region of a patient’s mouth, such one side of a lower jaw, or an infiltration injection that numbs a smaller area where the injection was given.
If a patient needs local anesthetic, Dr. Chiru will dry part of the mouth with air or cotton, then swab the area with a numbing gel so the needle isn’t felt. This injection usually lasts hours and can make it difficult to speak clearly or eat. There are a few precautions to consider when you or your child are getting local anesthesia, which include:
- A possible allergic reaction to the anesthetic
- Medicines your child may take
- Issues with patients using a wheelchair that use a “sip and puff” technology
- Herbs or vitamins your child is taking
- Interactions with prescription drugs
- Any heart conditions
There are some side effects with injections, but these are usually pretty rare. One possible effect is a hematoma, which is a blood-filled swelling that forms when the injection needle hits a blood vessel. Also, numbing can occur outside the numbing area. If this happens, your eyelid or mouth cay droop until the drug wears off. The needle can also injure a nerve, which can lead to numbness and pain for weeks or months, but this is extremely rare and with a skilled and competent dentist, this usually would not happen.
For more information or to ask any questions about local anesthesia in Tucker, Georgia, please contact us. You can reach us at 770-492-0250. We hope to hear from you soon!