A dentist’s chair is the cause of dread for many – research says that up to 75 percent of adults express fear upon the mention of a dentist’s appointment. Even though anesthesia is at a dentist’s disposal to help patients, the very idea of having a needle poking inside their mouth is nightmare-inducing. This factor not only causes considerable anxiety to patients, but also dissuades some patients from seeking a dentist’s help at all. Definitely not a good plan for healthy teeth!

Nasal anesthetics to the rescue. The dentist only has to make use of nasal drops or a nasal spray and the patient soon experiences the same numbness in the mouth that an anesthetic shot would bring. The dentist can then carry out the necessary dental procedure without worrying about causing anxiety with the needle.

Apart from this, there are a few other advantages too.

• Avoiding blood-borne pathogens. While industry standards have eliminated many of these concerns, improperly handled needles can cause exposure to blood-borne pathogens, a risk that can be lessened with the use of nasal anesthetics.
• Dodging injuries. A dentist is no doubt very careful while administering an anesthetic shot. Nevertheless, there have been instances of injuries to patients. Some patients also complain of tenderness in the area where the shot is administered.

For the needle-phobic, nasal anesthesia may be a welcome change.