Creative Commons image by Staff Sgt. William Denson, 807th MDSC

Many people get nervous when they hear that they have to have a filling or a root canal. Some even get anxious when it’s time for a cleaning. While there are many reasons for dental anxiety and fears, one common reason is that people are afraid to feel pain. Lying back in a dental chair is a vulnerable position, and we understand that you are looking for pain-free dental care, and that is our goal. If you’re wondering about pain control, here are some options that you might be given. Remember that every type of analgesic is not right for every person and every situation, so talk to your dentist to discuss what is right for you.

Nitrous Oxide

You might remember receiving nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, as a child. You’d wear a mask over your nose, and within a few minutes, you’d feel a bit giggly and “not all there.” For some patients, nitrous oxide is enough to help them relax, and it takes away the perception of pain. For those afraid of the needle of local anesthetic, it can relax them enough to have the injection without anxiety and pain. Other patients, however, feel a bit closed in with the mask on, as it covers the nose while we’re working in the patient’s mouth. If you are nervous and think that laughing gas might help you relax, ask whether it’s an option that is good for your treatment.

Local Anesthetic

Most patients who have fillings, crowns, root canals and other types of dental work have a local anesthetic commonly called novocaine. It might actually be lidocaine or xylocaine, but regardless, it numbs the area that’s being worked on. Some types of local anesthetic also contain a chemical to reduce bleeding, too, which can be helpful for oral surgery and other procedures.

If the needle makes you nervous, rest assured that an anesthetic gel can be placed on your gum first, so you should barely feel it. There are also anesthetic patches that can be used to numb the gum or palate so you don’t feel the injection.

IV Sedation

In some situations, a patient might be a candidate for sedated dentistry. This is not something that’s done routinely; usually it’s only for extremely phobic patients or patients who need a lot of work done at once. Sometimes it’s done on young children who need dental work but cannot sit in the chair and cooperate. A severe phobia of pain during dental work does not have to hold you back from getting the treatment that you need; if you are phobic or cannot sit in the chair for the length of time required to have your work done, talk to your dentist about whether IV sedation would be an option.

Other Types of Pain Control

There are other types of pain control that are used with varying levels of success in dental offices. Some include aromatherapy, hypnotism, TENS units, acupuncture and essential oils or homeopathy. You can ask your dentist whether any of this is supported in the practice. Most of the time, these measures, when used, are combined with other types of pain control, as they primarily aid in relaxation and not necessarily in relieving pain.

We want you to have a pain-free dental experience, so we have different types of pain control available to help you relax and handle your treatment without a problem. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to ask!