Local anesthesia is a type of anesthetic used to prevent pain in a specific area of your child's mouth during treatment by blocking the nerves that sense or transmit pain, which numbs mouth tissues.  We want children to experience pain-free dentistry; therefore, we support the use of local anesthesia.

First we apply topical anesthetic, which superficially numbs oral tissues to ensure your child does not feel the entrance of the needle. Next, we will inject anesthetics, if necessary; however, rest assured most children do not even know this takes place.  The treatment can usually begin 30 seconds following the injection.

Children are not familiar with the numb sensation of their lips and can sometimes get upset, or try to bite their lips. This can be dangerous, so parents must supervise their children and ensure they do not accidentally hurt themselves. Also, while talking with your children about dental care only use words that create a positive and relaxing mind set. Never use words like "needle," "shot," "pain," "hurt" or "drill."