Many people have a fear of being put under—put into a state of unconsciousness through the use of general anesthesia. In dental procedures, local anesthesia is a very effective alternative. It offers many advantages over general anesthesia.
What is local anesthesia?
Local anesthesia,
sometimes referred to as regional anesthesia, numbs only the areas of
the body that are to be effected by a surgery or procedure. With
dentistry, local anesthesia is used for most procedures, such as
fillings, implants, inlays, and root canals, among other things. Local
anesthesia allows the patient to remain awake and alert without feeling
any of the pain associated with the procedures.
How does it work?
Local anesthesia works by
numbing the nerves of the area to be worked on. It blocks the nerve
impulses of the area. It is applied either through a topic solution or,
more commonly, a syringe injection.
Will it hurt when it's applied?
Injection can be a bit uncomfortable, as with any shot, but the pain will pass quickly as the drug takes effect.
What are the risks?
There are few risks involved
when using local anesthesia. Negative reaction to the drug is a
possibly with any kind of anesthesia, but is far more common when
dealing with a general anesthesia or nerve block. Too much anesthesia
can lead to convulsions, or even cardiac arrest, but a skilled
anesthesiologist is very careful during the application process,
checking often to be sure that the drug is going where it's supposed to
and that too much is not being applied. If you have any questions or
concerns, talk with your dentist about them prior to your procedure.
What are the advantages of local anesthesia?
It
is thought to be less risky than general anesthesia, with fewer side
effects. It also allows you to be awake and alert during the procedure,
so you are available to answer questions. There is no “recovery period”
where you feel groggy waiting for the medication to wear off. With
local anesthesia, you can leave the dentist's office and go about your
day as you normally would, with no restrictions on driving, working, or
decision making.