- Your cart is empty
- Continue Shopping
A Quick Guide to the Most Common Local Anesthetics in Dentistry
Local anesthesia plays a vital role in modern dentistry, allowing millions of procedures to be performed daily—without causing pain. Understanding how anesthetics work and how to choose the right one is essential for safe, effective treatment.
Let’s take a quick dive into how local anesthetics function and review the most commonly used agents in dental practices.
How Do Local Anesthetics Work?
Local anesthesia temporarily blocks nerve conduction, creating numbness in a targeted area. This effect is achieved by interfering with sodium ion flow across nerve membranes, preventing the transmission of pain signals.
Most dental anesthetics are safe and reversible when used correctly, though care must be taken to avoid systemic toxicity, especially in high doses or with accidental intravascular injection.
Key Factors Influencing Effectiveness
When choosing a local anesthetic, three key factors come into play:
-
pKa (dissociation constant): Lower pKa values = faster onset of action
-
Lipid solubility: Higher solubility = greater potency
-
Protein binding: Stronger binding = longer duration of effect
Most Common Local Anesthetics Used in Dentistry
Here’s a summarized look at several widely used anesthetics and their clinical properties:
| Anesthetic | Type | Onset (min) | Duration | Protein Binding (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lidocaine | Amide | 2–4 | Moderate | 65% | Fast-acting, commonly used |
| Mepivacaine | Amide | 2–4 | Moderate | 75% | Mild vasodilator, suitable for short procedures |
| Prilocaine | Amide | 2–4 | Moderate | 55% | Lower toxicity, often used with epinephrine |
| Articaine | Amide | 2–4 | Moderate | 95% | High diffusion, ideal for infiltration |
| Bupivacaine | Amide | 5–8 | Long | 95% | Long-lasting, used for extended procedures |
| Etidocaine | Amide | 2–4 | Long | 94% | High lipid solubility, prolonged action |
| Tetracaine | Ester | 10–15 | Long | 85% | Potent but slower onset |
| Procaine | Ester | 14–18 | Short | 5% | Rarely used today due to low potency |
Additional Tips
-
Always tailor the anesthetic to the procedure and patient history.
-
Store and handle anesthetics carefully to preserve effectiveness.
-
Use high-quality accessories, like carpule syringes and dental needles, for safer application.
Recommended Products from Guardian Dental Supply
🔹 Three-Ring Carpule Syringe
-
Autoclavable stainless steel
-
Ergonomic grip with easy aspiration
-
Zero plastic waste
🔹 VIDU Dental Needles
-
Triple-bevel tip
-
Sterilized by ethylene oxide
-
Available in multiple sizes (30G & 27G)
Conclusion
Whether you’re performing a simple filling or a complex extraction, choosing the right anesthetic—and understanding how it works—can make all the difference. This guide is designed to give you a quick refresher on the essentials so you can make informed clinical decisions with confidence.
Need supplies?
Guardian Dental Supply offers the anesthetics, needles, and syringes you trust—all in one place. Explore our collection today!
