---
title: "What Is Topical anesthetic? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "A topical anesthetic is a gel, spray, or patch put on the surface of the gums or mouth to numb the area briefly before an injection."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/topical-anesthetic
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Sedation and Anesthesia

# Topical anesthetic

A topical anesthetic is a gel, spray, or patch put on the surface of the gums or mouth to numb the area briefly before an injection.

A topical anesthetic works on the surface only. The dentist dries the spot and dabs it on with a cotton swab. The ADA says your dentist may apply a topical anesthetic to numb an area before injecting a local anesthetic, and that topical anesthetics may also be used to soothe painful mouth sores. Cleveland Clinic describes a topical anesthetic as a medication you apply to the skin or mucosa to temporarily numb the area. It does not numb deeper tissue, so it does not replace a [local anesthetic](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/local-anesthetic). Tell your dentist about any allergies. See [lidocaine](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/lidocaine) and [mouth sores](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/mouth-sores).

## Related terms

-   [Local anesthetic](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/local-anesthetic)
-   [Lidocaine](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/lidocaine)
-   [Numbing (dental numbness)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/numbing-dental-numbness)
-   [Mouth sores](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/mouth-sores)
-   [Dental anxiety](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-anxiety)

## Sources

1.  [ADA MouthHealthy: Anesthesia and Sedation](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/anesthesia-and-sedation)

## Ready when you are

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