Anesthesia Used in Wisdom Tooth Removal

Dental extractions, including wisdom teeth, would be a lot more painful without the use of anesthetics designed to reduce and/or eliminate pain. Here are the most common types of anesthetics used.

Novocaine

• Novocaine, although not as widely used as in the past, is still used in many dental procedures, including wisdom tooth removal. Novocaine is injected directly into the gum tissues surrounding the wisdom teeth to be extracted.

Lidocaine

• Lidocaine is used in wisdom tooth extractions as well as in many other dental procedures. Like novocaine, lidocaine is injected into the areas surrounding the wisdom teeth requiring removal.

Nitrous Oxide

• More powerful anesthetics are used for difficult and extensive wisdom tooth extractions or in patients with significant dental anxiety. Nitrous oxide, which is an inhaled gas, is a type of general anesthetic that produces a semi-conscious state and promotes relaxation.

Traditional general anesthesia

• Traditional general anesthesia, which produces a total loss of consciousness, is sometimes used for difficult and extensive dental procedures, including wisdom tooth extractions. General anesthesia sedates, or "knocks out," a recipient for the duration of the dental procedure.

Valium

• Valium is a type of sedative medication used for many dental procedures, including wisdom tooth removal, as an adjunct to other anesthetics. Although not an anesthetic per se, valium produces many anesthetic-like effects - relaxation, reduced pain, etc. - that enhance patient comfort.