Novocaine & Lidocaine: History and Use of Dental Anesthesia
Going to the dentist is essential for great oral health. Regular teeth cleanings and checkups ensure that you’re not left to deal with broken or decaying tooth matter and the pain that comes with it. Some procedures require the use of a local anesthetic drug to make sure your dentist can do their best work without putting you in too much discomfort.
While novocaine is no longer really used in dentistry, lidocaine is! If you’re worried about the idea of a local anesthetic, we’re here to walk you through what the medication does, and their history. We’re also going over how long you can expect it to stay in your system once you’re done at the dentist's office.
What is Novocaine?
Many of us have heard about the use of novocaine during dental procedures, but what exactly is it, and why’s it used? Novocaine is a local anesthetic that helps numb the area your dentist plans on treating. It’s favored for its ability to be incredibly effective at blocking out pain while also remaining within the specific location it’s administered in.
What is it made from?
Traditionally, novocaine is the common name for the drug known as procaine, but some choose to use the name to describe other types of anesthetics as well. Procaine is a member of the amino ester group and is synthesized in two different ways.
How does Novocaine work?
Nerve receptors are what tell our body what to feel and when to feel it. When these nerves send signals to our brain, those signals are then translated and the body reacts accordingly – but what if those signals were disrupted? That’s exactly the role that novacaine plays when numbing the area around your mouth.
Novocaine interferes with the sodium channels responsible for transmitting the sensory feeling of pain to the brain, causing an increase in blood flow at the same time. As such, the signals are unable to be received and translated by your brain from your nervous system, meaning that anyone administered with the drug will not feel most of the pain that would be there if the channels were still functioning normally.
These days, novacaine is rarely, if ever used in the United States. Novocaine is more toxic than other local anesthetics, and some patients have allergic reactions to the anesthetic. For this and other reasons, lidocaine is now the preferred choice of dentists.
What is Lidocaine?
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic medication commonly used to numb specific areas of the body during medical procedures or to relieve pain. Just like novocaine, it works by blocking nerve signals in the body, temporarily numbing the sensation of pain or discomfort.
Why is lidocaine preferred over novocaine?
While novocaine was once the go-to local anesthetic for dental procedures, lidocaine has become the preferred choice for its longer-lasting numbing effects and faster onset of action. Additionally, lidocaine is less likely to cause adverse reactions such as allergic responses, making it a safer option for a wider range of patients.
Lidocaine also allows for more precise administration, ensuring patients experience minimal discomfort during dental treatments. Consequently, lidocaine has become the gold standard in dental anesthesia, offering both dentists and patients a reliable and effective solution for pain management during dental procedures.
During which dental procedures will Lidocaine be present?
While lidocaine effects have been a dentistry staple for a number of years, it is not used during every dental procedure. While everyone's dental work may require different tools in order to be considered a success, there are a number of services where the use of lidocaine is commonplace.
Wisdom teeth removal requires it
Depending on the status of the wisdom tooth being removed, your dentist may choose to administer lidocaine as a form of local anesthesia to complete the extraction. Alternatively, some oral surgeons may choose to utilize a form of general anesthesia to complete the surgery.
Tooth cavities & root canals often utilize Lidocaine
Deep cavity close to the root of your tooth? Chances are if you find yourself in this situation, utilizing numbness from lidocaine is the preferred method of treatment.
Cavities and root canals involve removing decayed or infected tissue from within the tooth. This process can be uncomfortable at best, but usually painful without anesthesia. Lidocaine numbs the nerves in the affected area, preventing the sensation of pain during the procedure.
Lidocaine allows your dentist to work more precisely and efficiently, too! By reducing patient movement and discomfort, they are able to perform your treatment with greater accuracy.
Cosmetic dentistry procedures will use Lidocaine a lot
Other minor procedures and even cosmetic dentistry rely on the effects of lidocaine to ensure patient comfort. Examples of these common services are the installation of veneers and the addition of crowns on a tooth.
Factors that affect how long Lidocaine lasts
Similar to general anesthetic, the dosage, side effects, and duration of the medication can vary from person to person depending on their medical conditions and the following factors:
How large is the dose?
The dosage of lidocaine, or any local anesthetic used in dental procedures, can indeed affect the duration of its effects. Typically, a higher dosage will result in a longer duration of anesthesia.
When a dentist administers lidocaine, they calculate the dosage based on factors such as the type of procedure, the area being treated, the patient's weight and age, and their individual tolerance to the anesthetic.
A higher dosage will provide more numbing effect and can prolong the duration of anesthesia, which can be beneficial for longer or more complex procedures. Your dentist has the expertise to determine the right balance between effective anesthesia and minimizing any potential risks.
How large is the area that needs to be sedated?
Lidocaine is favored for being a controlled local anesthetic that does not travel and spread with the blood flow under the skin of the injection site. With that being said, since lidocaine doesn't travel with blood circulation, multiple doses may need to be administered based on the overall size of the area being treated.
So, how long do the effects of Lidocaine last?
On the day of your dentist appointment, you can ask your dentist for a better idea of how long your anesthetic will last based on all the factors we’ve listed above. However, in general, the effects of lidocaine typically last for about 1 to 2 hours.
After your appointment is over, the numbness gradually wears off as the body metabolizes the anesthetic and normal nerve function resumes. Some patients may experience lingering numbness or tingling for a few hours after the procedure, but this usually resolves relatively quickly!
Coral Reef Dental is here to calm your nerves about Lidocaine!
Don’t let your dental care fall to the wayside due to uneasy feelings surrounding going to the dentist. While experiences can vary from person to person, we’re sure you’ll find your dental home here at Coral Reef Dental. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help your smile flourish!