At Pecan Tree Family Dentistry, your comfort is always a top priority. Whether you’re receiving a filling, an extraction, or oral surgery, we use safe and effective anesthetics to ensure your experience is pain-free and stress-free.

💉 What Is a Local Dental Anesthetic?

A local anesthetic is a medication that temporarily numbs a specific area of your mouth. It works by blocking nerve signals in the targeted region, preventing pain messages from reaching your brain during a procedure.

You’ll remain fully awake and alert, but you won’t feel pain in the treated area—only light pressure or movement.

🦷 Commonly Used Dental Anesthetics

Here are the most widely used local anesthetics in dentistry—and why we choose them:

✅ 1. Lidocaine (Xylocaine)

• Most common anesthetic in general dental care
• Fast onset: begins working in 2–3 minutes
• Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Often combined with epinephrine to extend numbing and control bleeding

✅ 2. Articaine (Septocaine)

• Known for deep penetration and fast onset
• Great for lower molars and areas needing strong diffusion
• Duration: 1–2.5 hours
• Commonly paired with epinephrine for longer effect

✅ 3. Mepivacaine (Carbocaine)

• Shorter acting—ideal for shorter procedures
• Often used without epinephrine, making it suitable for:
  • Patients with heart conditions
  • Those with epinephrine sensitivity
• Duration: 20–40 minutes (without epinephrine)

✅ 4. Prilocaine (Citanest)

• Milder vasodilation effect than lidocaine
• Sometimes used with lower concentrations of epinephrine
• Common in combination treatments
• Suitable for patients sensitive to stronger vasoconstrictors

✅ 5. Bupivacaine (Marcaine)

• Long-acting anesthetic—up to 6–8 hours of relief
• Typically used for:
  • Oral surgeries
  • Procedures with extended recovery time
• Provides post-operative comfort when needed most

⚡ What’s the Role of Epinephrine in Dental Numbing?

Many anesthetics include a small amount of epinephrine (adrenaline) to:

• Prolong the numbness
• Minimize bleeding in the treatment area
• Keep the anesthetic localized for safety and effectiveness

For patients with health conditions, anxiety, or sensitivities, we offer epinephrine-free options tailored to your needs.

🔗 Related Reading: What Is Epinephrine in Dental Anesthetics?

🏡 Personalized Anesthesia for Every Patient

We understand that no two patients are alike. That’s why we choose the anesthetic that best matches:

• Your procedure type
• Your medical history
• Your comfort level

Our team will explain exactly what to expect—and we’re always happy to answer questions.

📞 Need Dental Treatment? Let’s Make It Comfortable

From routine fillings to complex procedures, your experience at Pecan Tree Family Dentistry will be safe, gentle, and transparent.

📍 Based in McKinney, TX?
📞 Call us at (972) 562-0767 or book your visit online