“How safe is dental anesthesia?”

Dental anesthesia is usually local anesthesia, which has a very good safety history. If full sedation is required, only a Dentist or Oral Surgeon with special advanced training can perform that type of anesthesia, and may use the additional services of a nurse-anesthetist or a dental anesthetist, in order to perform this service safely.

MDSDDS

If you mean the local anesthetic used to numb the oral structures, it is very safe. If you mean General Anesthesia used to put patients in controlled unconsciousness that safety factor is dependent on many factors including the skill and training of the dental anesthetist.

The anesthesia normally used by dentists is called “local” anesthesia, which means the anesthesia stays just in the area where it is given, and is considered much safer than “general”anesthesia which affects the whole body.

Hi there,

There are so many varieties of local anesthetics, and it all depends on the skill of the clinician, the dosage, medical history of the patient, etc. But most are relatively safe if one follows the manufacturer‘s instructions for use.

Whether you are referring to local anesthesia or sedation anesthesia or even nitrous oxide (laughing gas), all are very safe when administered properly. Almost nothing interacts with nitrous oxide, it is so safe it can be used on pregnant women throughout all of pregnancy. Local anesthesia, often called Novocain (which we haven't used for many years) has very few interactions with other drugs. The epinephrine put in dental anesthetics will sometimes cause the heart to race for a short period of time, especially if it gets into the bloodstream, after all it is synthetic adrenalin and that is what adrenalin does. While that can be a little scary, it isn't a major health or safety concern. Sedation anesthesia used in dentistry covers a huge range of drugs and the depth of sedation varies dramatically. Many of the drugs used have an amnesiac effect, so you don't remember what went on during the procedure, which enables the person administering the drug to keep it very safe and keep you comfortable.

Dental anesthesia is safe. Go to a reputable practice. I teach anesthesia at a local dental program, dentist and hygienists are tested on anesthesia prior to obtaining a license.

If by dental anesthesia you mean local anesthesia given when filling a cavity, it is pretty safe. Usually, lidocaine or an equivalent is injected locally. It numbs the tooth and disappears within a couple of hours.

As an adult with a trained professional, it should be very safe.

Assuming that you are a healthy person with no systemic medical problems or allergies, local anesthesia to allow painless dental procedures is extremely safe. There is always an increased risk of complications when general anesthesia or sedation is used, but again in a generally healthy person the risk is minimal. If you have underlying medical complications, inform your dentist before they administer a dental anesthetic and the anesthesia used can be adjusted accordingly.