When you visit the dentist for a dental procedure, local anesthesia is often used to numb the area and keep you from feeling pain. The effects of this anesthesia can last anywhere from two to five hours, depending on the amount used and the individual. Most local anesthetics will cause the tooth to be numb for two to three hours, while the lips and tongue will be numb for three to five hours after the injection. As the blood flow carries the anesthetic away from the injection site, the feeling of numbness will gradually disappear.
If you have a routine filling, endodontic treatment, or other procedure, your dentist will likely use local anesthesia to numb the area. Generally, this anesthesia will last between two and five hours. As time passes, sensation will slowly return to the area. Novocaine is commonly used in routine dental work and helps make treatments more comfortable. It usually numbs the tooth for one to two hours, but can leave your lips, face, and tongue numb for three to five hours after your appointment.
If you have any questions about how long the numbness will last, be sure to talk to your dentist. You may be given specific instructions on how to care for your mouth after the procedure. If you experience persistent numbness after a dental procedure after five hours, contact your dentist. At Tompkins Dental, we understand that dental anxiety can be an obstacle to oral health care for some patients.
That's why we offer sedatives to help alleviate anxiety during procedures. We also provide advice on how to accelerate the restoration of normal sensation after a dental procedure. If you have any questions about dental anesthesia or would like additional advice, contact Tompkins Dental today.
