Controlling Dental Pain
Fear of pain is the main reason people avoid seeing the dentist. The good news is that there is a wide array of medications and techniques - used alone or in combination - that can reduce or eliminate pain and control anxiety during most procedures.
Pain Medications at the Dentist's Office
- Topical anesthetics.
Topical anesthetics, applied with a swab, are routinely used to numb the area in the mouth or gums where the dental work will be done. The topical anesthetic is given prior to injection with a local anesthetic, such as Lidocaine.
- Laser drills. Some dentists are now using lasers to remove decay within a tooth and prepare the surrounding enamel for receipt of the filling. Lasers may cause less pain in some instances and result in a reduced need for anesthesia.
- Electronically delivered anesthesia (also called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]). This is an alternative to the shot of anesthesia. Adhesive pads are placed on the face and a battery-powered device sends electrical impulses to
the treatment area to numb it. The patient controls the level of stimulation
through a hand-held unit. Another form of electronically delivered anesthesia
is called cranial electrotherapy stimulation. Under this technique,
electricity is passed into the brain, which causes relaxation. Again, the patient controls the intensity of the current, increasing or decreasing it to control the pain as needed. Advantages of these approaches are that as soon as the device is switched off, the effect is instantly reversed. The patient is able to drive and resume normal activities immediately following the dental visit.
- Nitrous oxide (also called
laughing gas). This gas, which is inhaled by the patient through a rubber face
mask, helps people feel relaxed and is one of the most common forms of
sedation used in the dental office. Effects wear off quickly after the gas is
turned off. This is the only form of sedation under which patients can drive
after the procedure and can eat food within a 12-hour period of the procedure.
With IV, oral and general anesthesia, the patient cannot drive following the procedure or eat after midnight the night before the procedure.
- Intravenous sedation.
This form of pain and anxiety control involves injecting a sedative into a
vein of a patient's arm or hand. This approach is usually reserved for
patients undergoing extensive dental procedures or for the extremely anxious
patient. Dentists need to monitor the oxygen level of patients receiving IV sedation and may need to give such patients additional oxygen during the procedure. With IV sedation, the patient is awake but very relaxed. If you think you may be interested in IV sedation, ask your dentist if he or she is licensed to administer intravenous sedatives.
- Oral sedation. An oral
medication, such as Halcion, works on the central nervous system to help patients relax. Oral sedatives are often not prescribed because they take about 30 minutes before their effects are felt and can cause drowsiness that may last for hours.
- General anesthesia. With
this technique, the patient is "put to sleep" for the duration of the
procedure. Patients requiring general anesthesia can be treated in the
dentist's office, but more likely are treated in a hospital setting. This is
because this type of anesthesia has risks, which include a sudden drop in
blood pressure and irregular heartbeats, so the patient needs to be closely
monitored. For these reasons, general anesthesia is typically only used if
extensive dental work is needed and when other forms of sedation or pain
control are not sufficient to conquer fear. If you think you may be interested
in general sedation, ask your dentist if he or she is licensed to administer
this form of sedation.
It's important to discuss all of these options with
your dentist. It is also important to tell your dentist about any illnesses or
health conditions you may have, if you are taking any prescription or
nonprescription medications, or if you ever experienced any problems or have
any allergies to any medications. Using all of this information, your dentist
will work with you to determine which anxiety- and pain-reducing approach may
be the best option for you. Also know that your dentist may be licensed to
administer some, but not necessarily all, of the pain- and anxiety-reducing
strategies identified here. Finally, keep in mind that although some health
care professionals may feel that the use of sedation might be inappropriate
for routine dental procedures, many dentists believe that the benefits of good
oral care for patients with high anxiety and/or dental phobia outweigh the
risks of sedation.
Mind/Body Techniques to Control
Anxiety or Pain
- Distraction strategies.
One way to reduce stress and anxiety is to distract yourself with something pleasant. Bring a Walkman with your favorite music. Some dentists have Walkmans in their offices that can be borrowed, and others are beginning to offer virtual-reality goggles, which provide images and sounds to take your mind off of the work your dentist is performing in your mouth.
- Relaxation techniques.
Studies have shown that practicing relaxation techniques helps reduce pain and
anxiety levels in patients. There are many types of relaxation strategies.
Some of the more common include:
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