Teeth treatment without pain? It is possible! Most of us fear the dentist like the devil of holy water. At the root of this is the fear of pain. Meanwhile, a visit to the dentist does not have to hurt, because even minor procedures can be performed under anesthesia. What are the types of anesthesia and which local anesthesia should I choose at the dentist?

Dental anesthesiais not a fad. Thanks to modern anesthesiology, we can avoid pain in 90-98%. cases - both during therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. In modern dental offices, each patient is offeredtooth anesthesianot only when the procedure is expected to be painful. The fear of pain itself can also be an important reason. Anesthetics eliminate nerve pain conduction, but they are not completely indifferent to the body. Therefore, modern anesthesiology strives to effectively relieve severe pain with the lowest possible dose of the drug.

How do local anesthetic drugs work?

The way all local anesthetics work is similar, by blocking the transmission of pain impulses through the nerves towards the brain. It can be said that the brain is not kept informed about the condition of the tissues in the anesthetized area.

Local anesthesia drugs are most effective on nerve fibers related to pain sensation, therefore other stimuli, such as pressure and touch, will be felt even after anesthesia.

The principle of anesthetic agents used in dentistry is based on blocking the sodium channel present in nerve cells (the structure responsible for the depolarization of the neuron). The combination of the local anesthetic drug with the sodium channel is reversible. This means that over time, the function of the nerve fiber returns. The duration of an anesthesia performed in a dentist's office depends on the anesthetic and the techniques of administration. Anesthesia usually takes about 1-2 hours, but this time may be longer or shorter.

Local anesthesia at the dentist: types

Dentists have several techniques for administering local anesthetic drugs. Depending on the technique of serving, we distinguish:

  • Surface anesthesia

The local anesthetic drug in the form of a gel or aerosol is spread over the surface of the oral mucosa. The anesthetic penetrates the epithelium and paralyzes the tiny nerve endings in the mucosa. This type of anesthesia is usually used before inserting the needle of the target anesthetic, and is also used during the extraction of deciduous teeth with significantly resorbed roots.

  • Infiltration anesthesia

It is a local anesthetic technique involving depositing an anesthetic solution under the oral mucosa. The drug is administered by means of a disposable syringe with a needle or special syringes of the carpula type. Anesthesia, depending on the indications, can be obtained through one or more punctures. The local anesthetic blocks small nerve branches in the area of ​​application and also penetrates deep into the bones, paralyzing the nerves located there. This technique of anesthesia is used in dentistry to anesthetize the teeth before procedures in the field of conservative dentistry, prosthetics, periodontology, for tooth extraction, sampling of mucosa lesions, etc. Due to the place of administration of the anesthetic, we can distinguish between apical anesthesia, intraligamentary anesthesia, interdental papillae and interdental papillae. surrounding.

  • Conduction anesthesia

This is a type of anesthetic in which the anesthetic is administered around the nerve trunk. As a result of the interruption of the conduction of nerve impulses, the feeling of pain in the entire area innervated by a given nerve disappears. In dentistry, this technique is most often used to inactivate the inferior alveolar nerve during extraction of the lower lateral teeth.

Worth knowing

By definition, pain is a subjective, negative sensory and emotional feeling caused by various stimuli. Pain is perceived differently by each of us. The same stimulus may produce almost no response in one person, while someone else will experience moderate or severe pain. The mechanism of pain development is not fully understood. Pain is caused by irritation of pain receptors (called nociceptorers) or damage to the nerve structures present in tissues. The nerve impulse generated at the site of the injury is conducted with the help of nerves to the brain. It is there that the stimulus is interpreted, special nerve structures are responsible for strengthening or silencing the signal. In response to the incoming pain stimuli, the brain sends feedback to various tissues and organs. Its purpose is to protect the body against damage associated with a pathological stimulus.

Side effects of dental anesthesia

Like any other intervention in the human body, local anesthesia may be associated with the occurrence of certain complications. It is worth noting that even properly performed anesthesia has a certain risk of side effects. There are two groups of complications that may occur during local anesthesia performed in a dentist's office:

  • The first group of complications are complications related to the general condition of the patient. It includes rare reactions associated with poisoning with anesthetics or with immune hypersensitivity to the drug administered. This group also includes stress-related reactions, fainting, arrhythmias, etc.
  • The second group of complications are local side effects. These include complications related to injury to soft tissues by the injection needle. Blood vessels, nerves and muscles can be damaged. In rare cases, the needle may break. Due to the proximity of anatomical structures, other nerves may be anesthetized, e.g. the facial nerve responsible, among others, for the contractions of the facial muscles. The symptoms of paralysis resolve spontaneously when the local anesthetic stops working. This group of complications also includes bacterial complications consisting in infection of tissues by microorganisms. There may be pain, swelling at the injection site. In rare cases, there is locks in it.
Important

Inform your doctor if:

  • you suffer from diseases of the liver, cardiovascular system, respiratory system (especially asthma) - administration of an anesthetic that contains e.g. epinephrine (adrenaline) or another vasoconstrictor, could be dangerous, in extreme cases even lead to cardiac arrest and you have to reach for another, safer anesthetic
  • you regularly take psychotropic, heart, sedative or narcotic drugs (drugs) because they interact with anesthetics and you may lose consciousness for a while

Those who constantly take anticoagulants, e.g. preparations containing salicylic acid, should stop taking them before tooth extraction.

Watch your body while giving local anesthesia and tell your doctor immediately if you start to feel a scratchy throat or have trouble breathing. This could be the first sign of an anaphylactic shock.

Usually, before administering anesthesia, the doctor asks if we are allergic. If we cannot answer the question precisely, it performs the so-called allergic test.It consists in injecting a small dose of the preparation into the forearm. If there is no allergic reaction, e.g. in the form of urticaria, it is a sign that the previously selected anesthetic can be used.

Computer anesthesia at the dentist's

More and more new solutions related to local anesthesia of patients are available in dental offices. The so-called computer anesthesia. With their help, the dentist can perform all types of anesthesia that are carried out with the use of an ordinary syringe. Computer anesthesia systems, however, do not resemble a classic syringe. They are equipped with a special computer through which the doctor selects the appropriate anesthesia program. It is the computer, not the doctor, that controls the rate at which the local anesthetic is administered. Thanks to the gentle injection of the anesthetic, the whole process is not accompanied by unpleasant feelings such as discomfort, pushing or pain.

Category:

Dentistry and Orthodontics