Table of contents:
- The effect of anesthesia after tooth extraction makes you numb
- How to get rid of the effects of anesthesia after pulling a tooth
Not only surgery, actions such as tooth extraction also require local anesthesia, so it doesn't hurt so much. Many are wondering, if you are sedated locally when you pull a tooth, will the sensation of numbness last long? Will the effects of anesthesia after tooth extraction last long?
The effect of anesthesia after tooth extraction makes you numb
When you go to the dentist and perform some medical procedures such as tooth extraction, the doctor will give you an injection of a local anesthetic. Well usually, this given local anesthetic or anesthesia is chosen according to the procedure that you are going to undergo.
Generally, the anesthetic that is given is Novocaine because it causes the shortest effect. The effects of anesthesia after removing this one tooth will last for 30 to 60 minutes. However, if Novocaine is given together with epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, the effect can be longer, which is about 90 minutes.
However, the actual numbing effect of Novocaine depends on several factors, such as the type of procedure performed, the area that needs to be numbed, and the number of nerves that need to be blocked.
In addition, the effects of anesthesia after tooth extraction vary from person to person. In the body, Novocaine is processed by an enzyme known as pseudocholinesterase. Well, about 1 in every 5,000 people have a genetic disorder that makes their bodies deficient in these enzymes. This prevents them from breaking down Novocaine and similar drugs. As a result, the effects of Novocaine can last much longer.
Tooth infection also greatly affects the work of Novocaine. This is because the infection causes the surrounding conditions to become more acidic and prevents the anesthetics from working. Finally, as mentioned earlier, the combination of Novocaine and epinephrine really determines the length of time you feel numb.
This is because epinephrine causes blood vessels to shrink, reducing blood flow around the injection site. Therefore, the effect of the anesthetic after tooth extraction is longer than it should be.
How to get rid of the effects of anesthesia after pulling a tooth
Usually, the effects of anesthesia after tooth extraction will slowly disappear, as the drug is carried into the bloodstream. However, because numbness can often make your mouth uncomfortable, there are ways to get rid of the effects of this anesthetic more quickly.
You do this by giving Phentolamine mesylate (OraVerse) which the doctor will give after the procedure is complete. This substance is able to expel the sensation of numbness. Quoted from Medical News Today, research shows that OraVerse is safe to use and does not interact negatively with other drugs.
If the numbness is gone, you no longer have to worry about mouth sores or sores from accidentally biting your tongue or inner cheek. In addition, it will also help you get back to eating and talking normally within 1 hour. However, it should be noted that this drug is not recommended for children over 3 years of age or weighing less than 15 kilograms.
Local anesthesia usually goes away more quickly if you do physical activity after treatment. This is because physical activity will increase blood flow in the body. However, you still need to ask your doctor first whether you can immediately exercise lightly after the procedure or not.
