How to Manage Anesthesia Numbness Following a Dental Procedure
Be it a routine filling or a root canal treatment session, chances are you will get anesthesia from a local anesthetic. Anesthesia is used to reduce pain during treatment procedures. In most cases, the numbness resulting from anesthesia lasts for an hour or two. However, in some cases, an individual may continue experiencing the effect on their lips, tongue, and face for three to four hours. Especially those who have to get back to work soon after a treatment procedure can find the aftereffect of anesthesia disturbing.
This article is dedicated to those who want to get rid of the numbness faster. You can try benefitting from the following tips.
Massage Gently
If there is no skin swelling and massaging does not hurt, try gently massaging the numb area of your face.
- However, ensure that you use only a warm compress for massaging
- The warm compress and massage is likely to increase blood flow in the area where your specialist had applied the anesthesia
- Wash your hands before and after massaging and keep the compress away from the treated area
Take a Short Nap
If anesthesia is troubling you way too much, you can consider taking a nap. A short nap can divert your mind from feeling any discomfort. In most cases, the uncomfortable feeling will completely pass away when you wake up.
Check if Your Dentist can Administer a Reversal Injection
If you cannot bear the numbness and are not scared of needles, you can request your dentist to administer a reversal injection. These injections tend to reverse the numbing effects of anesthesia much faster. For instance, in most cases, the effect goes away within an hour of administering a reversal injection.
Engage in Light Physical Activities
If your dentist allows you to engage in light physical activities after your dental procedure, go ahead. Light exercises like going for a walk can help reduce the numbness. Further, light physical activities can stimulate blood flow within the body, which causes the effect of anesthesia to fade away from the affected site. You will start feeling better as the numbness starts reducing.
Be Patient
The effect of anesthesia is different for different individuals. The impact also varies from one dental procedure to another. Nobody can accurately predict the duration of the effect of anesthesia. Other factors like weight, height, and the body’s ability to metabolize anesthesia also influence the duration of the effect of the anesthesia. Thus, it is best to be patient and let the effect of anesthesia fade away.
Concluding Thoughts
It is common for people to experience numbness for up to a few hours after they have been administered anesthesia. However, if the effect lasts for more than five hours after the procedure, get in touch with your dentist. It is essential to examine the underlying cause as prolonged numbness may be due to abscesses or nerve damage.
Get in touch with us if you want additional tips and solutions regarding prolonged numbness resulting from anesthesia. Our experts will guide you.
For more information regarding your dental health, please give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!
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