Dental Anesthetics
Dental Anesthetics
Anesthesiology is the controlled use of sedation and dental anesthetics during a dental procedure. Anesthesia is the name given to a class of medication that blocks the sensation of pain and actually means without sensation.
The function of the anesthiologist is to provide the patient a safe and comfortable environment allowing the dentist to concentrate on the procedure. The anesthetist will monitor heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level to ensure they stay within the normal range. Anesthetics are safe. A recent report from the Institute of Medicine says that due to tremendous advances in its field, anesthesia is almost 50 times safer than it was 20 years ago.
If you worry about being administered dental anesthetics, dentists trained in the use of anesthetics in the dental office have a remarkable safety record. They have extensive training in the field of anxiety and pain control and they work hard to ensure that visits to the dentist are safe and comfortable and as pain free as possible.
Dental anesthesiology is used to limit or remove the level of pain that may occur during the administration of a particular dental procedure. There are a number of anesthetics available to meet each patient's particular needs that include:
A local anesthetic is used to prevent pain in a particular area and maybe applied with a swab or injected.
A local anesthetic may be injected to numb a specific area of the mouth to prevent pain while treatment is being administered. Locally injected anesthetics give the feeling of a fat lip as the nerves and mouth tissue becomes numb. This type of anesthetic would be used for such procedures as preparing teeth for crowns, filling cavities or treating gum disease.
Topical anesthetics are used to prevent pain at the surface level and will be applied with a swab. They are also used in the soothing of mouth sores. The anesthetist may also apply a topical anesthetic to numb an area prior to injecting a local anesthetic.
There are a number of sedatives and anti-anxiety agents available to help the patient relax. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas and other oral sedatives are often used to help the patient relax and may be used in conjunction with local anesthetics. The patient is relaxed, in a state of conscious sedation but still responsive to sound and touch. Oral sedation is a technique used to calm those patients who may be mildly anxious but is not recommended for young children.
Conscious sedation, also called IV sedation and sometimes called Twilight Anesthesia, is used when the procedure requires the patient to be relaxed but not unconscious. The anesthetist will monitor the patients comfort level while administering varying amounts of sedative through an intravenous (IV) line.
A general anesthesia may be used when a patient becomes anxious or distressed when visiting a dentist's office or they may have a medical condition such as uncontrolled tremors or a hyperactive gag reflex that would make the procedure difficult. Some children and mentally challenged patients do not have the ability to cooperate with even the simplest of dental procedures. For these people, there is the benefit of anesthesia.
When using a general anesthetic, the patient does not see, hear, or feel anything. They are unconscious. This is accomplished using IV and / or inhaled medications. The patient is constantly monitored with an EKG monitor.
Become an informed dental consumer. There are a number of options that may be available to you to relieve anxiety and discomfort. Talk to your dentist about dental anesthetics and any questions or concerns that you may have regarding your dental health care. The more you understand about the procedure, the less nervous you will be about visiting your dentist. Learn how to maintain a healthy, sparkling smile.
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