Dental
Terms
One of the most common forms of local dental
anesthesia is the administration of
lidocaine. Lidocaine is the chemical name
and its safe use has been documented for
over 30 years. There are a number of
advantages in its use. It is readily
metabolized and eliminated from the
patient's body within the same day. And,
because many patients undergo extensive
dental reconstruction it can be taken with
virtually no reported cases of toxicity or
untoward medical effects.
Some patients require more local dental
anesthesia than others, and the varied
reasons generally are biological in nature.
The patient's metabolism is a significant
factor. More often though, it has to do with
the anatomy and location of the patient's
nerves. The main dental nerve may be
anesthetized, but many people have accessory
innervation from nerves in surrounding areas
such as the neck region or under the tongue.
Consequently, alternative injection
techniques are necessary. In other words,
more local anesthetic in the same area won't
do the trick. As a matter of interest, the
most common of the alternate injections is
called a periodontal ligament injection. In
this case, the local is placed between the
tooth and gum line to catch the nerve.
In addition to injections, a patient may
also have nitrous oxide administered. It's
also known by the slang term, "laughing
gas". It is a safe mixture of two gases,
oxygen and nitrous oxide. This usually will
have a most calming effect, especially for
those who may be very anxious or nervous
just before and during the treatment.
You can discuss these and other forms of
sedation with your dentist prior to the
actual treatment. If you haven't already
indicated, your dentist will need to know
about any respiratory conditions, or medical
problems you may have.
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