A topical anesthetic gel is a must-have in a first-aid kit. It helps you be prepared should you need temporary pain relief. If you are interested in more information about anesthetics, read here about anesthetic injection before dental extraction.
What are topical anesthetics?
In general, when topical anesthetics are applied to certain areas, they are meant to numb and reduce the sensation of pain that the area experiences. Topical anesthetics can come in many forms. They come in gels, creams, sprays, drops and many other forms, making an easy application to the skin, eyes, ears, and throat possible. This article will concentrate on the advantages of topical anesthetic gel and its uses.
Topical anesthetic gel
These types of anesthetic gels may be prescribed by your doctor for pain management of toothaches, canker sores, mouth and gum injuries or sore gums. If your doctor or dentist prescribed the use of any topical anesthetic gel, you must follow the exact directions for the application that is indicated on the package. If you do not understand any part of the instructions, you can clarify it with your dentist.
Do not buy and use this type of product on children younger than 2 years of age. There are severe side-effects that accompany the excessive use of this drug, and it might be too strong for very young children. If you are keen to know more details, you can ask your dentist about the risks involved.
The use of topical anesthetic gel in dentistry
The use of topical anesthetics in the field of dentistry is vast. These topical gels may come in different flavors, depending on the brand you choose to use. The flavors make the topical gel easier for the patient to receive the anesthetic. After this topical gel is applied to the area, the dentist will administer a stronger anesthetic to the area to prepare it for the impending treatment. This stronger anesthesia will be applied via a syringe, and the reason why the topical anesthetic was applied is to prevent the patient from feeling the pain of the needle.
Another use of a topical anesthetic gel is before dental scaling. This procedure may cause some discomfort to the patient while it is being done. The reason behind the discomfort would be because the dentist will clean up to the bottom part of the tooth. A topical anesthetic can prevent the patient from feeling discomfort during the procedure so that the cleaning can be done thoroughly.
Prophylaxis is another type of cleaning done to the teeth that may cause mild discomfort to patients. This cleaning is done to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease. A thorough cleaning may cause discomfort because it cleans the entirety of the oral cavity, to make sure that oral issues have a less likelihood of developing.
The takeaway
Trust your dentist if they prescribe or recommend the use of topical anesthetic gel. These are safe, as long as the correct limit of the dose is followed. If you have qualms about the use of a topical anesthetic, talk to your dentist about it. They will be happy to put your mind at ease, especially before a dental procedure.