Grin-and-bear-it days are long gone

Press, 20 October 1986, Page 10

Grin-and-bear-it days are long gone

Word of Mouth

Way back in the past, a dental appointment was a grjn-and-bear-it situation. You expected some discomfort and were always ready for the moment when it might become real pain. Mind you, the anticipation was often worse than the realisation, but it was not an occasion for rejoicing. A visit to a modern dentist is a different proposition altogether. She or he has the means to eliminate all the unpleasant bits with various forms of anaesthesia. The number of ways available is almost legion, so for purposes of this article we will stay with the common ones and leave some of the more subtle varieties to next time. We all know the ordinary dental injection and most of us have experienced one at some time or another. What we do not know so well is the different types of injection which can be given and their resultant effects.

My favourite, as a dentist, is one which, unfortunately, works only on children about 8 years old or younger.

It goes into the gum between the teeth and uses only a small amount of anaesthetic solution. The affected tooth goes off to sleep nicely, but the surrounding face and lips do not. Hence, this injection is a great one for tiny tots, who have never experienced a numb face and might be frightened by it, or else bite their

cheek. There are two or three other types of local anaesthesia (as injections are called) of which the most well-known is an infiltration; a simple technique whereby some solution is deposited near the roots of the tooth to be treated.

It works quickly and well and makes the lip or cheek in the vicinity go numb for about an hour. In the case of most of the bottom teeth and some ■of the top back ones, an injection called a nerve block, is necessary to produce loss of feeling in the region. Here, the solution is placed alongside a nerve trunk and causes more profound loss of sensation.

In the lower jaw, which is the common site for this, the numbness in the face affects one half of the lower lip and chin and one side of the tongue. Unfortunately it lasts for about four hours and hence, with children, there needs to be a constant reminder not to bite lip, cheek or tongue.

Of course it is every person’s right to choose or reject the use of local anaesthesia. What always worries a dentist is. the

patient who has never tried it because she or he is tod hesitant, or the one who -has .tried it once, years ago, and it did not work.

No dentist wants to see anyone put up with unnecessary discomfort and their concern is always to make it easier for the patient. Being prepared to try something new or giving it another chance is often the only way of deciding what is going to be best for you in the future.

There is no question about the fact that some people, when in a dental chair, are perfectly relaxed .without injections and have no need of this medication; others certainly cannot relax until they are assured of receiving it. The dentist will respect your wishes, but, for your own sake, make sure that you are fully informed on all the possibilities.

If you do opt for a prick in the gum before you have any fillings done, two hints might be helpful to you. Firstly, in the case of those folk who are supersensitive to sensation, ask the dentist if she or he would mind putting a little surface anaesthetic on the gum to take away the feeling of the needle going in. Secondly, never look at the needle beforehand, because it always looks lethal, while really it is very thin and dentists are very competent in its use. Just leave it to them and relax. .4