How Long Does Freezing From The Dentist Last?
Making a trip to the dentist for some, can cause a bit of discomfort and stress. If your trip is going to include some form of “freezing” or local anesthetic, possibly due to the need of having a filling, it can make the trip a little bit overwhelming. There are always options when it comes to your oral health that can make you feel much more at ease.
If you are coming in for an appointment and will need to have some freezing put in, there are a couple things to know about what goes into this procedure.
- Ease of appointment: Many times, when the dentist is needed to do work that could involve a certain amount of pain, it is best for the patient to not have to endure this, so the dentist will administer freezing. This will eliminate most of the unnecessary pain.
- Freezing is only temporary: Most times, the freezing that is put into your mouth only lasts a couple of hours. This can be different for every person based on a lot of things. Depending on your weight, height and how fast your body can metabolize, you will have a different amount of the freezing agent. It can last for different amounts of time based on all of these factors. Your dentist will be able to inform you more thoroughly during your visit about this.
There are many people that suffer from anxiety when they know that they will have to undergo local anesthetic or freezing. Don’t worry, you are not alone in this. Between 10 to 30 percent of the population find it stressful to have to undergo this kind of procedure. Most common reasons for needing freezing are due to fillings, but there are other procedures that can require this as well.
What Happens When The Dentist Puts Freezing In?
Local anesthetic, or freezing, is administered when there is a procedure, such as a filling or crown, that needs to be done. Generally there can be a lot of pain involved in these kinds of procedures, so your dentist wants to make you as comfortable as possible.
Your dentist will administer the freezing agent to the area of the mouth which will undergo the procedure. This is typically done by injection to the site with a needle after there has been some light numbing cream put on the area where the injection will go. After a few minutes, you should feel the effect of the numbing. Should you not, more of the freezing agent might need to be administered before your dentist can continue.
There are some risks attached when there is freezing involved. Some of these can include:
- Change in heartbeat: Some people feel a change or a “race” in their heat beat for a short amount of time after being injected. This should only last for about a minute or so. Should it last longer, you need to let your dentist know. It is good to make note of this, should it happen, right away to your dentist so that it can be monitored.
- Numbness spreading to other areas of the face: There are times when the freezing that is administered can be quite effective. There can be freezing that can spread to other areas of the face, such as up to the eyes. If you are noticing that more of your face is frozen or numb, you should inform your dentist so that they can give you proper care and again monitor what is happening.
- Nerve damage: While this is rare, it can happen. Should the needle that is applying the freezing hit a nerve, the effects of this can last for weeks, or in some cases, months. There will be pain along with the numbness and your dentist will be able to diagnose if a nerve has been hit.
Having freezing put into your mouth is never a comfortable thing but it is meant to ensure that the dentist can work and you will be most comfortable. These effects will only be temporary and hopefully you will not have to experience this more than once or twice a year.
What If My Freezing Does Not Go Away?
Typically freezing should last only a couple of hours after you have been injected. The average time for this is about 1 to 3 hours. Sometimes patients will have their face numb for up to 5 hours, this is still quite normal. Freezing should be starting to come out around this time.
If around the 5 hours mark you are feeling no change at all, it is best for you to give your dentist a call. Your dentist will be able to talk you through what should happen next and if there is something that you need to. You might need to come back into the dentist if the freezing does not come out, but again, this is quite rare.
At Green Grove Dental we are here to make you feel at ease and keep you informed. If there is anything else that you are wanting to know, your dentist is here to help!