What Do Anaesthetics Do?

It should come as no surprise that some dental procedures can be painful. Teeth may be tough on the outside but beneath the protective enamel layer is a mesh of nerves so sensitive that any degree of exposure can be excruciating. With this in mind, the use of anaesthetics is essential, but what are they and what do they do?

Put simply, an anaesthetic is used for the temporary blocking of nerves to eliminate sensation, most notably pain, during a procedure. However in practice there is a lot more to consider as there are many types of anaesthesia, which are administered in different ways and for different purposes.

Sedation can be used for a drowsy effect, allowing the patient to remain conscious but comfortable, and general anaesthetic can be used to knock them out completely and block any stimulation at all. However the most commonly used type in dentistry is local anaesthetic, which only blocks sensation in a very specific part of the body. Anything more powerful than that is usually unnecessary.

Local anaesthetic will usually be administered with a needle, which ironically is painful but only slightly, and the pain you are spared from the procedure greatly outweighs the minor pain to be expected from an injection. You will most probably be injected with Lidocaine, which blocks sodium channels in the nerve membranes. This makes the nerve temporarily unable to conduct any impulses so any pain that would be caused cannot be transmitted.

Following the injection you will lose sensation in your teeth, lower lip, chin and tongue, an effect that lasts for around 2 hours, depending on the dosage.

As is the case with any kind of medication there may be side effects so before undergoing any kind of procedure that involves anaesthesia it is vital to inform your dentist of any underlying health problems you may have.