Posted on June 07, 2024
When you must have some dental work done, it’s comforting to know that your dentist can administer freezing so that you will not feel any pain during the procedure. Most people know that dental freezing is available for dental procedures but may not know exactly what it is or how it works. Here is what you need to know:
What is dental freezing?
There are two main types of anesthetic that can numb the tissue in your mouth: topical and local.
Topical freezing is used to numb the surface area of your mouth where the local injection will be administered. Dentists use topical freezing to make it more comfortable for their patients when administering local freezing because the pinch of the injection can cause some discomfort.
Local freezing is a solution injected via a syringe, which will numb a tooth or two and the surrounding area.
How does dental freezing work?
Local dental anesthesia works by blocking impulses, or the communication, between the nerve of the tooth and the brain. This communication signal is what would cause a person to feel pain as the dentist is performing the procedure.
How long does dental freezing last?
As with any medical procedure, the experience is going to be a little different for each person. The freezing could last as little as an hour or two or as long as six to eight hours, depending on the type of anesthetic used and the patient’s reaction to it.
After the procedure is finished, the patient should experience small improvements in feeling and movement over time. As long as the feeling is coming back, even if slowly, there is no reason to be concerned. Call your dentist if you find that the freezing sensation is not lessening.
Is dental freezing the same for any area of your mouth?
If you get dental work done on the lower portion of your mouth, the freezing may not take effect as quickly. This is because the bone of the lower jaw is more dense than the upper jaw.
Due to this difference, your dentist will inject a nerve block instead of just freezing a tooth or two. The nerve block will freeze all the teeth on that half of your lower jaw, and about half of your mouth will be frozen (including your cheek, lip and tongue).
You may also notice that freezing in the lower jaw will take longer to wear off than in the upper jaw.
Is dental freezing safe for everyone?
Very few complications can come from having dental freezing administered during your procedure. Still, it is important to notify your dentist of any medications you are on or any health conditions you may have.
That said, it’s very common for patients to bite the inside of their mouth or tongue because the freezing means patients won’t feel it, and they are unaware of where their tongue or cheek may be. So, it’s important to minimize the amount of chewing until the freezing wears off and the sensation in your tongue and cheek has returned.
Contact Stoney Creek Dental today.
If you have any concerns about your dental health, please contact us today to make an appointment with one of our dentists.