Newer Anesthetic

Having a 'dental family' is fun. It is truly a pleasure to work with all of you. Stress comes into the equation due to the nature of the treatment which can be uncomfortable. The nature of teeth is that they are sensitive. They have 'nerves' that are usually quite sensitive when teeth need to be treated even with small cavities.

Novocaine is what most of us call the local anesthetic that is used in dentistry. Novocaine hasn't been used by most of us for years. It was replaced by lidocaine before I started dental school. I have never given a patient actual novocaine. Lidocaine has recently been replaced by a more comfortable and more dependable local anesthetic called articaine.

Articaine is much better than lidocaine [and thus novocaine] in a couple of signicant characteristics. It penetrates tissues much more effectively. It also doesn't hurt as it is injected nearly as much as lidocaine.

I have been using articaine at my office for a number of years. Many other offices are finally switching to this more comfortable anesthetic.