What exactly is local anesthesia?

Question:
What exactly is local anesthesia? Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to it?

Answer:
Local anesthesia is anesthesia which is performed using the injection of a numbing agent such as lidocaine. Local anesthesia is the type of anesthesia which is injected into your mouth and teeth during dental work. Local means that there is generally little if any systemic availability of the anesthetic. Common procedures which incorporate local anesthesia are skin lesion excision and closure, oral cavity biopsy, and cosmetic procedures such as liposuction or eyelid surgery. Although it is extremely uncommon side effects from local anesthesia include allergic reactions to the particular anesthetic injected, overdose of anesthetic if too much is used , and rapid heart rate or high blood pressure if epinephrine is used in conjunction with the local anesthetic. A thorough knowledge of the potential side effects of local anesthetics and how to treat these complications is paramount to safe practice.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld