Anaesthetic Gels, Anaesthetic Sprays Must Have Dental Products

Dentists use anaesthetic sprays and gels to manage their patients pain and reduce their discomfort during dental procedures and treatment

. Some specific situations where topical anaesthetic gels are used are:

Minimize the pain caused by numbing gel

Preventing the gag reflex during an X-ray or when a dental tray is positioned in the mouth for an impression

Reduce the discomfort while scaling, shaping or removing stitches from a wound

Relieve pain after a tooth extraction

Besides gels and sprays, these products are available in the form of ointments and patches. Some of these are flavoured. A topical sedative is stronger than local analgesics as it is applied locally and not injected into the tissue.

The dentist normally makes a full evaluation of the patients medical and dental history to check for past allergic reactions. Some people may be sensitive to certain flavours and ingredients. The area to be numbed is first dried followed by an application of the anaesthetic gel, spray or adhesive patch which works by penetrating a couple of millimetres under the surface. The effect of this is retained for up to half an hour. The dentist can then inject it or perform minor actions like removing stitches.

Mild topical numbing ointments are also available as non-prescription products at the pharmacy and recommended for mouth pain relief or to soothe a sore throat.

How topical anaesthetic sprays and gels work

Numbing gels, as dentists refer to them, contain a sedative component such as 20% benzocaine. This is applied to the area where the injection is to be administered. The ointment is left in place to start working. Sprays are also used for the same purpose, although gel is more popular. For those allergic to benzocaine, dentists use another analgesic called lidocaine. Usually, the topical ointment can be used directly on the skin or inside the mouth to relieve the pain from wearing dental braces, mouth sores, tooth ache and teething.

Some popularly used topical anaesthetics are:

Lidocaine this is available in ointment and patch form and used to reduce the pain from an injection or a tooth extraction. The area becomes numb in three minutes and last a quarter of an hour.

The patch this adhesive patch contains lidocaine and is placed inside the mouth for about fifteen minutes to numb the area. The effect stays for about half an hour after removing the patch. This is considered as effective as the ointment and believed to be safer as far less of the ingredient enters the patients bloodstream.

Benzocaine this is used as liquid and ointment and has up to 20% sedative to reduce pain caused by injections. Its action is similar to lidocaine and is also available as a non-prescription product to relieve mouth pain, sores, discomfort of dental braces and dentures.

Tetracaine is a water-soluble, powerful and fast-acting. It is often used in combination with benzocaine to cause rapid numbness and is available as an anaesthetic spray.

While there are no major risks caused by topical sedatives, dentists use them with caution to avoid allergic reactions and overdoses, which can be dangerous.

by: Mark Mulholland

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