Hygiene Corner
Local Anesthetic
January 2009
Any procedure at the dentist office can be scary to most people. Just imagine getting up the nerve to go to the dentist and after the doctor injects you with local anesthetic, your heart seems to be beating too fast. Well, this happens to a lot of patients. Most local anesthetics have a substance called epinephrine included in them. Epinephrine's proprietary name is Adrenalin.
Epinephrine is most commonly used as a vasoconstrictor in dental procedures. Vasoconstrictors in local anesthetics increase the duration of the anesthetic. Even though epinephrine is very common, patients tend to feel uneasy due to its side effects. According to Stanley F. Malamed's 'Handbook of Local Anesthesia 5th edition' the cardiovascular system's stimulation is "increased systolic and diastolic pressures, increased cardiac output, increased stroke volume, increased heart rate, increased strength of contraction and increased myocardial oxygen consumption." pg.45. In laymen's terms, the patient's heart may beat faster, the patient may feel excited or nervous and their blood pressure may increase.
The dosage of local anesthetics is calculated by the patient's weight and whether or not the patient has any heart or cardiac problems. Those patients who receive a little too much epinephrine may acquire dizziness, a throbbing headache, restlessness and even difficulty breathing.
Remember, the human body already makes its own adrenalin. So, extra adrenalin could possibly make the patient a little nervous or shaky. Just keep in mind on your next dental visit and you will understand why you may become more nervous after the injection.
Gena M. Hughes, RDH, CDA
