What

Anesthesia means a lack or loss of sensation. This can be with or without consciousness.
Today there are many options available for dental anesthetics. Medications can be used alone or
combined for better effect. It’s individualized for a safe and successful procedure.
The type of anesthetics used also depends on the age of the person, health condition, length of the
procedure, and any negative reactions to anesthetics in the past.
Anesthetics work in different ways depending on what’s used. Anesthetics can be short-acting when
applied directly to an area or work for longer times when more involved surgery is required.
The success of dental anesthesia depends on:

 the drug
 the area being anesthetized
 the procedure
 individual factors
Other things that may effect dental anesthesia include the timing of the procedure. ResearchTrusted
Source also shows that inflammation can have a negative impact on the success of anesthetics.
Also, for local anesthesia, teeth in the lower jaw (mandibular) section of the mouth are harder to
anesthetize than the upper jaw (maxillary) teeth.
There are three main types of anesthesia: local, sedation, and general. Each has specific uses. These
can also be combined with other medications.
Local anesthesia

Local anesthesia is used for simpler procedures like a cavity filling, which requires a shorter time to complete
and is generally less complicated.

You will be conscious and able to communicate when you get a local anesthetic. The area will be numb, so you
won’t feel pain.

Most local anesthetics take effect quickly (within 10 minutes) and last 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes
a vasopressor such as epinephrine is added to the anesthetic to increase its effect and to keep the anesthetic
effect from spreading to other areas of the body.

Local anesthetics are available over the counter and as a prescription in gel, ointment, cream, spray, patch,
liquid, and injectable forms.

They can be used topically (applied directly to the affected area to numb) or injected into the area to be
treated. Sometimes, light sedation is added to local anesthetics to help relax a person.

Sedation

Sedation has several levels and is used to relax a person who may have anxiety, help with pain, or keep them
still for the procedure. It can also cause procedure amnesia.

You might be fully conscious and able to respond to commands, semiconscious, or barely conscious. Sedation
is categorized as mild, moderate, or deep.

Deep sedation can also be called monitored anesthesia care or MAC. In deep sedation, you’re generally not
aware of your surroundings and can only respond to repeated or painful stimulation.

The medication might be given orally (tablet or liquid), inhaled, intramuscularly (IM), or intravenously (IV).

There are more risks with IV sedation. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing must be carefully
monitored in moderate or deep sedation.
General anesthesia

General anesthesia is used for longer procedures, or if you have a lot of anxiety that might interfere with your
treatment.

You’ll be completely unconscious, have no pain, your muscles will be relaxed, and you’ll have amnesia from the
procedure.

The medication is given through a face mask or IV. The level of anesthesia depends on the procedure and the
individual patient. There are different risks with general anesthesia.

How

Bagaimana efek samping dari dental anasthesi

Side effects of dental anesthesia depend on the type of anesthetic used. General anesthesia has more risks
involved with its use than local anesthesia or sedation. Reactions also vary based on individual factors.

Some reported side effects with sedation and general anesthesia medications include:

 nausea or vomiting
 headache
 sweating or shivering
 hallucinations, delirium, or confusion
 slurred speech
 dry mouth or sore throat
 pain at the site of injection
 dizziness
 tiredness
 numbness
 lockjaw (trismus) caused by trauma from surgery; the jaw opening is temporarily reduced

Vasoconstrictors such as epinephrine added to anesthetics can also cause heart and blood pressure problems.

These are some reported side effects of anesthetics. Ask your dental care team about your specific medication
and any concerns you may have about the medication.

When

When is general anesthesia used, and is it safe?

General anesthesia is very safe. Even if you have significant health problems, you will most likely tolerate
general anesthesia without serious problems.

But with any medication or medical procedure, you may experience some side effects. Here’s what to expect.

Why

Why is general anesthesia used over other methods?

If you need surgery, you probably don’t want to feel what’s going on. Depending on the type of surgery, this
can be accomplished in a variety of ways.

Your doctor will likely recommend general anesthesia if your procedure is going to:

 take a long time

 result in blood loss
 affect your breathing

General anesthesia is essentially a medically induced coma. Your doctor administers medication to make you
unconsciousness so that you won’t move or feel any pain during the operation.

Other procedures can be done with:

local anesthetic, like when you get stitches in your hand

sedation, like when you get a colonoscopy

a regional anesthetic, like when you get an epidural to deliver a baby

Your doctor will walk you through your individual options when planning for your procedure. They’ll be able to
answer any questions you may have about what will be used and why.

How

How is it administered?

You don’t need to do much to prepare for local anesthesia. Just make sure to tell your doctor if you:

 have any open wounds near the affected area

 take any medications, especially ones that increase your risk of bleeding, such as aspirin
 have a bleeding disorder

You’ll be given local anesthesia shortly before your procedure to give it time to start working. This usually only
takes a few minutes. While you shouldn’t feel any pain, you might still feel sensations of pressure.

Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel any pain during the procedure. They may need to give you a
higher dose.

Local anesthesia usually wears off within an hour, but you may feel some lingering numbness for a few hours.
As it wears off, you might feel a tingling sensation or notice some twitching.

Try to be mindful of the affected area while the anesthesia wears off. It’s very easy to accidentally injure the
numbed area in the few hours following a procedure.

For OTC local anesthetics like Orajel, be aware that it may sting or burn a little when you first apply it. Never
use more than the recommended amount on the product’s label. It can be toxic if too much is absorbed in
your skin.