Want Painless Dental Injections?

 

I don’t know about you, but my earliest memories of going to the dentist as a child were all about that shot in the mouth I was going to get! So, when I first went to dental school, I was determined to find a way to give painless dental injections and decrease my patients’ pain at the dentist. Although it has taken quite a few years to perfect the technique, it is possible to give a painless dental injection in most cases.

This is how our team achieves painless dental injections:

Dental Topical Anesthetics

Nearly everyone has heard about dental topical anesthetics. The most common brand sold over-the-counter is “Oragel.”  These typically contained benzocaine in relatively low doses and have a modest numbing effect. We use a specially compounded gel that results in profound numbing of the injection area if placed properly and left in place for two to three minutes. The key here is to make sure the injection site is dry and the gel is covered with gauze to hold it in place.

Warmed Anesthetic

Warming the anesthetic solution to body temperature not only reduces painful sensations during the dental injection but also speeds numbing reducing waiting times.

Anesthetic Acidity

Certain formulations of local anesthetic drugs are more acidic and therefore cause more pain than others. We always use the least acidic formulations first, then others as needed once the site is numb.

New Needle Technology

This may sound unusual, but new designs and technology have resulted in extremely fine needles that make painless dental injections possible. Utilizing this new technology for injections and other treatments helps decrease a patient’s overall pain at the dentist.

The Dental Injection Technique

This is the part that only experience can teach. And after over 43 years in practice, I have found ways to give painless dental injections that are also extremely effective in quality and duration of anesthesia. The details are a little beyond the scope of this article, but if you are interested, I’d be happy to discuss the details in my office.

Managing Dental Anxiety

Many of our patients have dental anxiety, especially if they have experienced pain at the dentist in the past. Our team specializes in managing dental anxiety, and we will do everything we can to ensure you are calm and comfortable during your visit. Read our tips for managing dental anxiety to prepare for your appointment.

Decreasing Pain at the Dentist

As a biomimetic dentist, we work to preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible. This means we avoid drilling and other potentially painful dental procedures unless it’s absolutely necessary! Going to a holistic or biomimetic dentist can prevent dental pain for years to come. 

In addition to the tips mentioned above, the number one way to decrease pain at the dentist is to take care of your overall oral health. By practicing good dental hygiene, you can prevent fillings, root canals, and many other procedures.

If painful dental injections are keeping you away from the dentist, give us a call at 972-829-0540 or contact us to schedule an appointment at our Richardson, TX office. We also offer mild and moderate sedation for nervous patients. We’d like to help!