The Myths and Fears Behind the Dental Needle Revealed by Dr. Nicolas Porter

Dr. Nicolas J. Porter, Founder and CEO of Risas Dental and Braces and Host of Dr. Nicolas Show

The Dental Needle is the second most common reason why people avoid going to the dentist.

I chose to broach this subject because of the lack of knowledge and information there is available to consumers on this topic.

You might ask, “What is local anesthetic and how does it work?”

Lidocaine and its derivatives are what dentists use to numb a patient’s mouth before doing dental work. In the lidocaine carpule is a drug called epinephrine, which is a substance that our body produces on its own.

Have you ever heard a noise at night that made you panic and your heart start racing? That is your body producing epinephrine. It is known as the “Fight or Flight” response in our bodies when we sense something that may cause us harm.

You’re likely wondering, “Why would you put epinephrine in local anesthetic?”

In the Dental Needle, it has a much different purpose than to create a fight or flight response, although this is the reason why your heart might race after an injection. Epinephrine also causes the blood vessels that it touches to constrict and to stop the flow of blood in the area. When it does this, it allows the anesthetic to remain in one place for a longer duration of time. This is important so that your dentist does not have to give you an injection every 5 minutes.

Can a patient be allergic to the local anesthetic?

I get this claim quite often and while a patient can be allergic to the local anesthetic, it is extremely rare. The reaction from the epinephrine is what most people are referring to with this claim. And, while the feeling of anxiety and a racing heart is not pleasant for a few moments, it is simply the epinephrine doing its work.

It is impossible to be allergic to epinephrine – a substance that is produced by our body.

How long does the numbness last?

The numbness will last for 4-6 hours, but with each passing hour the numbness weakens. During this time, you may have several different sensations that are all normal. To speed up the recovery, you can massage your cheek which assists with blood flow.

Children need special attention after a dental procedure. Their lips and cheeks feel like bubble gum to them when they are numb and before you know it, the child has a severe lesion from the biting. It is vital to place gauze or a cotton role and watch your children closely after a dental procedure.

Is there a way for the Dental Needle Injection to be painless?

All dentists at Risas Dental and Braces are taught a unique technique: shaking the cheek or lips of patients as they are getting

Flickr Photo by @dental md

injected.

The theory is that the brain cannot receive two different sensations at the same time. When this is done, the patient is focusing on the shaking of the lip rather than the injection.

This technique has received many compliments from patients. Many patients claiming, “That was painless. The best dental experience I’ve ever had.”

We do all we can because we get it and we don’t hide it. We can’t take away the dental needle; it’s always going to be there, but we can do everything in our power to educate and provide the most gentle care possible. Hasta next week!

This article is a feature from the series, “From the Mouth of Dr. Nicolas.” You can listen to “El Show del Dr. Nicolas” every Wednesday from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. on 1190AM. Visit the official website at  www.DrNicolasShow.com

If you have any questions regarding this topic, and would like to make an appointment for a free consultation, visit RisasDental.com, or follow Dr. Nicolas on Twiiter @DrNicolasShow or “LIKE” his page on Facebook at Facebook.com/DrNicolasShow