Are you dealing with toothache? Perhaps you are waiting to attend that dreaded appointment for the removal of wisdom teeth? Whatever kind of oral pain you might be experiencing, it wouldn’t hurt to learn a little bit about painless treatments ahead of sitting in the dentist’s chair. Sharp pains and dull aches can be relieved with the right type of pain relief. Even if your teeth or gums are extremely sensitive to hot or cold, you can rest assured that there will be some kind of treatment available to you.
Why Get Pain Relief?
The fear of sitting in a dental surgeon’s chair is what prevents most children and adults from attending oral check-ups. If you don’t attend these important examinations, underlying oral problems could get worse and you will have no choice but to face the music, or potentially lose teeth! Pain relief not only makes the experience more comfortable for you, the patient, but also it eases pressure on the dentist’s behalf, allowing him or her to work more efficiently without the worry that you are uncomfortable.
Types Of Pain Relief
Both pain and anxiety can be relieved with help from a dentist. The pain relief chosen will depend on the procedure taking place. For example, root canal treatments will usually be conducted whilst the patient is under general anaesthetic, whereas laser drills will be used as an alternative to topical anaesthesia. One of the most favoured forms of pain relief is electronically delivered anaesthesia, because the patient manages this level of pain relief, therefore will always feel in control throughout the procedure.
Drugs Used in Dentistry
A dentist will thoroughly assess your condition before administering pain relief. There are two main reasons why drugs will be given to the patient – to ease pain and to speed up the healing process. Age and weight, as well as a number of other considerations, will affect the dentist’s decision to use drugs, with the most common being the following:
1. Anti-inflammatory drugs
2. Anaesthetic
3. Antiseptics
4. Antifungals
5. Chlorhexidine
6. Doxycycline
7. Fluoride
8. Muscle relaxants
9. Pilocarpine
10. Tetracyclines
11. Sedatives
While some drugs will be prescribed to make you feel less stressed (such as muscle relaxants), others will be given to eliminate the cause of an oral problem. For example, oral thrush will be treated with a course of antifungal and doxycycline will be given to patients with periodontal disease. If you feel unsure about being administered any of these drugs for pain relief, be sure to discuss it during the initial appointment or consultation.
All cosmetic dentistry performed by the dentists at Hills Dental Care is performed in the most pain-free way possible. To learn more, call (02) 9899 3100.
