How long does numbness from the dentist last, and can you shorten it?

How long does dentist numbness last?

Cleveland Clinic says articaine and lidocaine should go away completely within about two hours, with mepivacaine wearing off sooner. Healthline says local anesthetic after a filling usually wears off in one to three hours and can last longer depending on type and amount. Larger doses, multiple shots and extensive procedures can prolong it, according to Cleveland Clinic, and Healthline says adding epinephrine extends the effect.

How to get rid of numbness after the dentist

On your own, you cannot. Cleveland Clinic says there is no way to speed it up, and that you have to wait for the medication to leave the tissue. The sources we read do not recommend any trick such as massage, heat or exercise, so we do not either. Avoid testing the numbness by biting or pressing.

The reversal injection: OraVerse

Cleveland Clinic's drug information describes phentolamine injection (OraVerse) as an injectable medicine given in a clinic into the tissues of the mouth that reverses the effects of numbing medicines used in the mouth, helping feeling return after a dental procedure. It lists people to tell the care team about before receiving it, including those with heart disease, allergic reactions to phentolamine or other drugs, those who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant and those who are breastfeeding. Side effects to report include allergic reactions, heart rhythm changes such as a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, trouble breathing, dizziness or faintness, and low blood pressure, and common ones include headache, numbness or tingling in the mouth or tongue and pain or redness at the injection site.

Not every office offers it, and whether it suits you is a decision for your dentist. Ask before the appointment, not afterwards.

What do dentists use to numb?

Cleveland Clinic names articaine, lidocaine and mepivacaine as common injectable anesthetics. Healthline lists lidocaine as gel and injection, benzocaine as a gel for adults and children over 2, and epinephrine, which some injections contain to make numbing last longer. A topical gel numbs only the gums and mainly keeps the injection from stinging, and nitrous oxide is mainly used to ease fear, according to Healthline. Cleveland Clinic's sedation article describes nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation and general anesthesia for anxiety, which are different from local numbing.

Why some people stay numb longer

Healthline says a rare genetic condition called pseudocholinesterase deficiency, affecting about 1 in 5,000 people, can make procaine effects last much longer. Cleveland Clinic says responses may vary slightly from person to person. If you have had unusually long numbness before, tell your dentist so they can choose differently.

Eating and drinking while numb

Wait until it fades before eating, to avoid biting your lip, cheek or tongue, and take care with hot drinks because you cannot feel a burn, according to Cleveland Clinic and Healthline. Choose soft food and small bites if you must eat.

When it is not normal

The sources give no fixed cut-off. The NHS lists numbness or tingling in the tongue, lips or chin as a possible complication after wisdom tooth removal. If numbness is much longer than you were told, or is spreading or changing, call the dentist who treated you. Allergic reactions to dental anesthetic are rare, according to Healthline, and need emergency care.

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