Dental Anesthesia

Dental anesthesia is the use of anesthesia to provide pain relief during dental procedures. Anesthesiologists, oral surgeons, and other qualified health care providers may administer anesthesia prior to, during, and after a dental procedure. General anesthesia is used to render a patient unconscious while local anesthesia numbs a single area along the gum line and intravenous sedation produces a relaxed, tranquilized state. Local anesthesia is the most commonly used form of dental anesthesia. This numbs a single area inside the mouth to prevent the patient from feeling pain. Local anesthetics either block signals to the brain or interrupt pain signals from the nerve endings around the area being operated on. Local anesthetics can be delivered in a number of ways, depending on the patient's teeth and the dental procedure being performed. Common methods of delivery include sprays, gels, swabs and injections. Many local anesthetics contain epinephrine to reduce bleeding. General anesthesia is used for tooth extractions, surgical dental procedures and other highly invasive procedures. General anesthesia is administered either through a mask or intravenously, which makes the patient completely unconscious during their procedure, with no feeling of pain. General anesthesia is typically administered by an anesthesiologist in a hospital or office setting, as the patient needs to be monitored closely afterwards for postoperative nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms. Intravenous (IV) sedation is used for complex restorative procedures like root canals and denture fittings. The patient remains conscious during the procedure, although they may feel relaxed and have little memory of the procedure after the effects of the sedation wears off. A qualified anesthesiologist administers IV sedation, with careful monitoring of the patient for any changes in breathing rate or blood pressure. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a mild sedative used by dentists to reduce a patient's anxiety and can also provide pain relief. It is administered through a mask that covers the patient's nose and the effects usually last between 2-10 minutes after the procedure is completed. Nitrous oxide may be used in combination with other forms of dental anesthesia to induce a relaxed and comfortable state during a dental procedure.