Apart from eliminating pain, anesthesia allows procedures to be performed which would be impossible without it. It can be stated that anesthesia is essential in medicine, and also in dentistry. The following are six aspects of anesthesia that are unknown to the general public.
Dental anesthesia in pregnancy
Going to the dentist from time to time is essential to prevent, diagnose and treat oral pathologies in time.
In cases where there are pregnancies, it is also necessary to make these periodic visits, since oral health can vary during the months of gestation.
In turn, it should be mentioned that local anesthesia is harmless in cases of pregnancy, both for the mother and the baby, so that, if necessary, it could be used without any risk.
The duration of dental anesthesia
When local anesthesia is applied, the patient feels that the area that has been treated is numb or insensitized. This is a normal situation and the effects disappear about three hours after the procedure.
In the case of conscious sedation, the duration time is different, as it ends only a few minutes after the treatment, a fact that allows for a faster recovery.
Dental treatments requiring anesthesia
There are several dental treatments that require the use of anesthesia to be successful. They are the following:
- Dental implants.
- Extractions.
- Fillings.
- Endodontics.
- Oral surgery.
- Periodontal cleaning.
Types of dental anesthesia
The main types of dental anesthesia are the following:
- Spray, cream or gel: used to numb the area where the local anesthetic will be applied to avoid the discomfort of the puncture.
- Local anesthesia: this is the technique most commonly used to numb the mouth and is used for procedures such as fillings, implants or root canals, among others.
- Mild sedation: nitrous oxide is applied with a mask, thus avoiding gingival puncture. It is used especially in periodontal cleanings.
- Conscious sedation: its operation is similar to that of light sedation, although a greater amount of anesthesia is applied.
- General anesthesia: it is not usually used in dental clinics, since it is a complete sedation that must be supervised by the anesthesiologist.
What are the side effects of dental anesthesia?
Local anesthesia is the variety of anesthesia most commonly used in dental clinics. It has a strong analgesic effect, so it numbs the site where it is used.
However, it may take the patient more than two hours to feel the treated area again, although this allows the specialist to carry out the desired treatment without fear of generating discomfort.
It should be mentioned that, although the side effects of anesthesia in dental cases are sporadic and very rare, on occasions, some may appear, such as difficulty or inability to blink, hematoma or elevated heart rate.
However, in reliable dental clinics that are committed to quality and excellence, these side effects will be practically impossible to appear.
Is it possible to drink alcohol before and after dental anesthesia?
The answer is simple: no. Generally, it is not advisable to consume alcoholic beverages before or after being anesthetized, as this may cause an alteration in its effects.
In Puyuelo Dental Clinic we use dental anesthesia so that the patient does not suffer discomfort during treatments with maximum safety.
For more information about dental anesthesia, contact a specialist in Dentistry.