It may seem like magic to have a dental procedure and not even feel it, but how does this numbing process actually work? Let’s take a look at the interesting science behind one of the dentist’s best tools for patient comfort.

The most common dental anesthetic is lidocaine. It’s what we call a local anesthetic, that is, a pain blocker that only works in a particular small area, as opposed to general anesthetic, where you are “put to sleep”. There are several other similar drugs that also end in “-caine” that are sometimes used, depending on the situation (dentists no longer use novocaine). All of these drugs work by preventing the pain sensation from ever making it from your mouth to your brain. But how does the drug block these signals?

The sensation of pain happens when sodium molecules attach to receptors on your nerve cells. When enough of these receptors are activated, a pain signal travels from one nerve cell to another, all the way to your brain. Lidocaine works by preventing sodium from attaching to the nerve’s receptor. Think of it like a spam blocker on your email account: the lidocaine blocks the message from ever getting to your inbox (your brain).

So why isn’t this effect permanent? Your body has natural defenses that will breakdown chemicals that are foreign to it. Lidocaine takes between 1 and 3 hours to wear off because that’s how long it takes for the body to break it down and eliminate it. We know that the numbness can feel really strange at first, so rest assured that it will be gone soon!

We should note that while lidocaine is extremely safe, you should share your entire medical history with us when we ask. Even conditions that don’t seem related to your oral health can change how drugs like lidocaine affect you. Please ask us if you have questions.

The last thing any dentist wants to do is cause discomfort. If you think about it, that’s the entire purpose of our job: preventing discomfort related to oral health. But sometimes the things we need to do to keep your smile healthy can cause temporary pain, so we numb you up beforehand to prevent this.

When we talk to patients about dentistry, one of the main concerns they bring up is whether the dental care they receive will be gentle. As dentists, our main concern of course is your health, but we understand the desire to have a gentle dental care experience. We know it’s not everyday you have to let another person look around your mouth, so we strive to do all we can to make sure your visit & your treatment comfortable, & we mean this in the broadest sense possible.

Gentle Dental Hygienists & Dentists

We pride ourselves on having brought together a team of dental professionals who always use a gentle touch when treating patients. Our dentists & dental hygienists provide meticulous teeth cleanings & take care & time when navigating the delicate structures of your mouth, such as your gums. And we are always happy to make accommodations for you if you have specific sensitivities. If you are uncomfortable in any way, please let us know! We prefer hearing feedback to worrying that you might have endured some kind of discomfort in silence!

Gentle Dental Care Through the Latest Technology

Advances in dental technology, procedures & materials mean that we can take a more conservative approach to dental care than ever before. Plus, many of the technological advances we use at our office result in quicker, more comfortable processes & procedures. Even taking x-rays has become a faster & more efficient process now that we use digital radiograph technology. Technology means being able to catch problems early when they’re easier to fix & shorter recovery times for procedures that were more invasive with the limited instrumentation of the past. We’re living in a bright new future of dentistry & we’re happy to bring all of the best advances in smile care here at our practice.

Gentle Impact on Your Daily Schedule

We know one of the roughest parts about going to your regular teeth cleanings is fitting the visits into your busy schedule. We don’t want anything to stand between you & regular preventive dental care. That’s why we offer teeth cleaning appointments that fit around your work schedule, so you don’t have to take time off to see us. We will always do our best to learn your availability & schedule you into an appropriate time slot in the first place. However, please let us know if an appointment time conflicts with another obligation in your schedule. Asking to reschedule is always preferable to a last-minute cancellation. Seeing you consistently for cleanings is vital to keeping your smile healthy for the long run.