What is a Dental Injection?

Whenever you need dental treatment that is surgical or invasive in nature, you will be given anaesthetic to stop you feeling any pain; this usually comes in the form of a dental injection. Local anaesthetic is the most common type used, simply because it numbs the area in question, without knocking the patient unconscious – which most dentists would prefer to avoid. The injections work by blocking the messages from nerve endings in the tissue to the central nervous system, where we register sensations; therefore the signals don’t reach the brain and allow us to sense pain.

If you are particularly anxious about needles, there are some alternatives, such as inhalants, which are administered using a mask, which fits over your face. This might sound just as scary, but these techniques are well practiced, so there’s really nothing to worry about. If you can cope with it, you should ask for an injection rather than anaesthetic gas, as it’s better to remain awake and lucid throughout. You could ask about sedation methods, if you’re feeling very worried, most dental surgeries have some form of relaxant you can take beforehand, to help you calm down.

How should I prepare for a dental injection?

In most cases, you won’t have to change your eating habits at all, but some patients may be told to refrain from eating or drinking anything in the run up to their treatment, particularly if they are going to be receiving some type of inhalant – there is a danger of lung damage if any stomach contents are regurgitated during the procedure. Smokers will also need to put away the cigarettes prior to their appointment, not only because they can affect respiration during treatment, but also because they impede the healing process, by blocking the supply of oxygen to the surgical site. Other than that, there’s not a lot you can do to prepare for your operation, although you could practice some breathing techniques, if you are very worried about the injection.

Even though the repercussions of eating or smoking might sound quite frightening, all you have to do to avoid them is follow your dentists instructions carefully, that’s the best way to avoid mishaps, both before and after the treatment is completed.

How will I feel after my injection?

The anaesthetic will begin to take effect very quickly, in a matter of seconds, your mouth will begin to lose sensation and you won’t be able to feel a thing. You will probably be aware of changes in pressure, as your dentist works on your teeth, particularly if you are having some extracted, and you will notice vibrations from the drill, if you are having cavities filled, but you won’t feel any pain.

When your surgery is over, the anaesthetic will stay in your system for several hours, so you need to be careful what you eat and how you act, it’s easy to injury yourself by biting down hard and you wouldn’t even realise until the anaesthetic wore off. You should regain sensation within a few hours, and you don’t need to stay at the surgery until you’re back to normal, but it’s generally advised that you organise travel beforehand, as it’s not a good idea to drive under the influence of any kind of strong medication.

Are there any side effects?

It’s rare that patients experience any serious side effects as a result of a dental injection; however, if your dentist notices that you are abnormally drowsy or confused, they may choose to keep you at the clinic after your operation, just to make sure your condition is not life-threatening. You should make your surgeon aware of any worrying symptoms, but remember that some lethargy or drowsiness is to be expected. In extreme cases, allergies can occur, exhibiting symptoms such as quivering lips, or inability to speak properly, both of which pose a serious hazard to your health and can result in a heart attack without appropriate treatment. If you have any medical issues that could leave you at greater risk of toxic reactions like this, make sure your dentist is fully aware before they administer the injection, they may wish to consider alternative methods.

I’m afraid of needles, what can I do about my dental injection?

Thanks to industry advances, there are new products coming onto the market, which are designed to make the whole dental experience more comfortable and efficient for both patient and dentist. The biggest development in the anaesthesia field is the Wand; this revolutionary tool can administer the necessary amount of anaesthetic solution at exactly the correct rate, rendering the procedure virtually painless. It works using a computer program to calculate the process, eliminating any kind of human error from the equation – which is generally where the pain originates from. Unfortunately, because the product is relatively new to the UK market, it might be hard to find a clinic that offers it as part of their service, but as the ‘painless’ injection grows in popularity, more and more surgeries are choosing to invest in up-to-date equipment, for the good of their patients.

You might be surprised to know that it’s actually the injections that put people off more than the surgery itself, for some reason, those tiny needles reduce patients to tears in many cases. The good thing about the Wand is that it doesn’t look like a hypodermic needle at all; in fact it resembles a pen, in size and shape. This design aspect was included deliberately, so that the patient can see the needle and realise that it’s not so scary after all, it is also much easier for the dentist to handle and manoeuvre when administering anaesthetic. The Pearl Dental Clinic offers Wand injections as part of their treatment, along with the very latest in restorative techniques, call today to book an appointment, or just to discuss your options regarding dental injections – don’t let the needles put you off, especially if you have pressing problems that need dealing with.