Sedation and Anesthesia
Nerve block
A nerve block is an injection of local anesthetic near a main nerve. It numbs a wider area, such as several lower teeth and part of the lip, than a single-tooth injection.
In a dental nerve block, the dentist places local anesthetic near a larger nerve instead of around one tooth. The inferior alveolar nerve block is the most popular technique used to block pain from the lower back teeth. It can also numb the lip and part of the tongue on that side.
The medicine often contains epinephrine and may be an anesthetic such as articaine. Numbness can last for hours, so take care not to bite your lip or cheek until normal feeling returns.
A nerve block is a common part of a tooth extraction or other work on lower molars. Your dentist will talk with you about what to expect.