“Do I need anesthesia to get my chipped teeth fixed?”
I have a few badly chipped teeth. When the dentist fixes them in a few weeks, will anesthesia be needed?
12 Answers
Local anesthesia to areas being worked on.
No
Local anesthesia depends on whether the repair will involve preparing the later under the enamel of the tooth (dentin).
Dr. J. Arthur Saus
Anesthesiologist
Although some people may be able to tolerate dental repair without anesthesia, I wouldn't recommend it. Generally, dental repair on teeth without anesthesia is an extremely painful experience. It is best to discuss whether anesthesia is needed or not with your dentist before beginning the repair process.
This depends on the size of the chip, the approximation to the nerve, the amount of drilling required, and the patient tolerance of pain. I find that often times chipped teeth are usually restored through bonding procedures with minimal drilling where no anesthesia is required.
The need for anesthesia will be determined by your dentist, and depends on your level of anxiety and the amount and type of work that needs to be done.
Generally the dentist will likely utilize local anesthesia to repair them they can block all the lower teeth on one side or the other by using a local block... upper teeth require injection locally to the individual teeth involved. Some oral surgeons utilize sedation as well but be sure to discuss that before hand and determine if they have proper personnel and equipment to monitor that if it is required.
Marc A Morales MD
Marc A Morales MD
If you need some numbness, then your dentist can use a small needle to inject local anesthetic so you don't feel anything.
Local anesthesia only
Anesthesia is mostly for your own comfort just in case the sensitivity is more pervasive in your own particular case than would otherwise be experienced by the average person, which is an individual issue and should be discussed prior to the procedure with the X-rays present so the dentist can visualize and demonstrate to you to assure you that your comfort is most important during the procedure to ensure the best restoration product.
If they are not painful and sensitive now or to cold air/water then you should not need anesthesia.
Whether or not you need general anesthesia (going all the way to sleep) will be up to your dentist. Most office based dental procedures can be done with local anesthetic - which is when the dentist injects numbing medication into the gums and numbs up the nerves supplying the teeth so you don’t feel pain. Even wisdom teeth can be extracted with only local anesthetic, although many people these days opt for some additional sedation in addition to local anesthetic.
