Thanks to the wonders of numbing agents such as Novocaine, patients can have much of their dental work performed in a pain-free fashion. Of course, the problem with dental anesthetics is that for some people, it takes hours for their mouths to recover from the numbing effect. This issue often translates into a problem for busy working people who can’t afford to spend half a day feeling numb in the face. Instead of a quick morning cavity filling being a simple, 20-minute affair, it can negatively impact a person’s work performance by impairing speech and impeding a person’s ability to present herself publicly without humiliation (after all, nothing says “attractive” like the look of uncontrollable drool slipping out the corners of a colleague’s numb lips).
Fortunately, mouth-related numbness doesn’t have to be an all-day affair thanks to a new drug called OraVerse. Dr. Stuart Levy is a Medford, New Jersey-based dentist, and he thinks that OraVerse is instrumental in enabling patients to take care of their teeth without having to worry about spending a good part of the day feeling orally out of commission.
So what is this magic drug and how does it work? OraVerse is the first and only local dental anesthesia reversal agent on the market proven to accelerate the process of patients regaining feeling in their mouths after dental procedures. To administer OraVerse, a dentist will inject it into the area of the patient’s mouth that has been worked on and is therefore already numb. Of course, a dentist will always wait until the procedure at hand is truly over to ensure that anesthesia is no longer necessary before attempting to reverse its effects. Since the oral injection site will already be numb by the time the OraVerse is given, patients shouldn’t feel any additional discomfort during this part of the process. After OraVerse is given, some patients can expect their numbness recovery period to be virtually cut in half.
Of course, OraVerse works differently on each patient. In some cases, it can produce noticeably faster recovery from local anesthetics. But in other cases, the effects might be less noticeable. Just as patients react differently to numbing agents (some people’s numbness wears off quickly, while others remain numb for hours), so too are they likely to react different to OraVerse. However, considering the fact that OraVerse has been proven to reduce the average patient’s numbness recovery period, it certainly makes sense for those who tend stay numb for far too long to try it.
Some people may worry that a shorter period of numbness might translate into an extended period of post-procedural pain. However, the use of OraVerse has not been associated with increased pain following trouble-free, minimally-invasive procedures such as cavity fillings. In fact, in most cases, there is really only a need to numb the patient’s mouth while a dental procedure is being performed, but not afterwards; the long-lasting effects of numbing agents simply come as part of the package.
So can anybody use OraVerse? According to Novalar, the dental pharmaceutical company that developed the drug, OraVerse is recommended for adults, adolescents, and children who are aged six and older and who weigh a minimum of 33 pounds. So while the drug is not an option for smaller children, adults can certainly stand to benefit from it.
Thanks to OraVerse, your next early morning dental appointment does not have to mean that a good part of your day is automatically going to be shot. Instead of resigning yourself to the discomfort and embarrassment that can accompany an extended period of oral numbness, ask your dentist about OraVerse before officially clearing your workday schedule. After all, a simple cavity filling shouldn’t affect the rest of your day; and with a simple dose of OraVerse, it no longer will.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
