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Why do I need anesthesia at the dental office?
To make your dental visit as comfortable as possible, your
dentist may suggest anesthesia to reduce or eliminate any
pain or anxiety that may be related to your dental treatment.
The type of anesthesia required for any dental procedure depends
on the needs or preferences of the patient.
How do I know if I m a candidate for dental anesthesia?
You and your dentist will decide what level of anesthesia
is right for you. Some patients prefer a higher level of anesthesia
than others. Children, people with special needs, such as
mental retardation, and those with a condition, such as a
dental phobia may require a higher level of anesthesia.
What are the levels of dental anesthesia?
Local anesthesia is produced by the application or injection
of a drug to eliminate pain in a specific area in the mouth.
Topical anesthetics are frequently used by your dentist to
numb an area in preparation for administering an injectable
local anesthetic. Injectable local anesthetics, such as Lidocaine,
numb mouth tissues in a specific area of your mouth for a
short period of time. Your dentist will probably inject a
local anesthetic before filling cavities, preparing your teeth
for crowns, or for any surgical procedure. Local anesthesia
is the most commonly used form of anesthesia in the dental
office.
Conscious sedation can be used to help you relax during a
dental procedure. Your dentist may administer an anti-anxiety
agent, such as nitrous oxide, or a sedative, in combination
with a local anesthetic for pain. During conscious sedation,
you will remain calm during treatment, yet rational and responsive
to speech and touch. Anti-anxiety agents and sedatives can
be administered by mouth, inhalation or injection.
Deep sedation and general anesthesia is used for complex
procedures and for patients who have trouble controlling their
movements or need a deeper level of anesthesia during treatment.
During deep sedation you will be unable to respond appropriately
to verbal commands. During general anesthesia you will be
unconscious.
What should I tell my dentist before receiving anesthesia?
Your dentist needs to know about all the medications that
you are taking, any allergic reactions you ve had to medicines
in the past, and your past and present health conditions.
It s important that you answer your dentist s questions completely
and ask about your concerns. This way your dentist will be
sure to tell you everything you need to know before receiving
treatment. For example, in some cases, your anesthesia treatment
may require that you suspend certain medications or abstain
from eating or drinking for a period of time before the treatment.
Is anesthesia in the dental office safe?
Although taking any medication involves a certain amount of
risk, the drugs that produce anesthesia are entirely safe
when administered by a trained anesthesia provider. The best
thing to do is ask questions about any procedure that you
are not familiar with. Ask about alternatives, training, the
doctor s commitment to continuing education and the credentials
of other personnel in the dental office who might be assisting
with your treatment. Good communication between the dentist
and the patient is the best way of insuring safety.
Members of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) are required
to take 75 hours of continuing dental education every three
years to remain in good standing. The AGD Fellowship and Mastership
awards reflect additional hours of experience and study.
Sources:
James Chancellor, DDS, MAGD;
Morbidity and Mortality Associated with the Pharmacologic
Management of Pain and Anxiety, Compendium of Continuing Dental
Education, Vol. XIV, No.6; Guidelines for Teaching the Comprehensive
Control of Pain and Anxiety in Dentistry, American Dental
Association 1992;
Understanding Dental Anesthesia: What Every Patient Should
Know, American Dental Association 1999.
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