If you've ever had needle phobia, you might like to learn about a new technology referred to as an "anesthesia wand," which is a computer-controlled dental-injection tool. In fact, some people feel it is more of a "magic" wand because it doesn't look like a typical injection and it works even better by making the entire process virtually painless.
Here's how it works
Your anesthesia will be delivered through a syringe-free wand or pen-like device that is connected to a computer. Before the tiny needle attached to the wand is inserted, the computer delivers a small amount of anesthetic so that the insertion site starts going numb before the needle enters the skin.
Once the needle is in place, the computer delivers an accurate, consistent amount of anesthesia so that you remain comfortable. The computer's microprocessor automatically adjusts the injection pressure for different tissue densities, maintaining a constant, comfortable flow of anesthesia. This fact is especially important to understand because the culprit with most injection anxiety is discomfort from anesthetic being injected too quickly, not from the needle entering the skin.
What are some advantages of using an anesthesia wand?
- One of the most important advantages is that it doesn't look threatening, as it eliminates the initial anxiety upon seeing a syringe.
- We can use it in conjunction with other conscious sedation methods (i.e. nitrous oxide) for a more comfortable treatment.
- It provides painless injections for all routine dental treatments including root canals, crowns, fillings, and cleanings.
- Using the wand enables us to deliver a more consistent and comfortable injection, especially in more sensitive areas such as the front of your mouth or in your palate (roof of your mouth) where tissue is less elastic.
- Due to the wand's penlike grasp, we can more easily handle, rotate, and accurately glide the wand into precise, hard-to-reach places to deliver anesthetics.
- Last but not least, we find that many of our patients who previously experienced a fear of injections overcame their fear after the first use. This fact alone provides them with a better, less stressful dental experience while enabling us to relax, focus, and do our best work.
Related Articles
Local Anesthesia for Pain-Free Dentistry Local anesthesia is one of the most effective tools in dentistry and medicine. It is safe, effective and has totally revolutionized pain control. Without local anesthesia, some dental procedures would be quite stressful for all involved. It's good for you and for your dental professionals... Read Article
Oral Sedation Dentistry Step out from under the shadow of fear and into the calm of sedation dentistry. There are safe and time-tested options available to ensure that you have a positive and painless dental experience. Your apprehension and hypersensitivity to pain melt away, yet you remain awake and in control... Read Article
Overcoming Dental Fear & Anxiety Do you feel relatively calm before your dental appointment or are you a little nervous about a visit to the dental office? Do you worry about it days or weeks before the appointment? Are you actually terrified of it? Whichever end of this spectrum you might be on, you are not alone. It's possible, even for those who are the most afraid, to reduce that fear and to learn to have treatment in a way that feels calm and safe. Here's how... Read Article