142 Where There Is No Dentist 2012
AFTER YOU GIVE AN INJECTION
Before you begin treatment, test the tooth and gums to be sure that they
are numb. Wait 5 minutes for the anesthetic to start working. Ask the person
how his lips feel—they should feel ‘heavy’ or numb. Then test the area.
Poke the gums between the teeth
with a clean probe.
Watch the person’s eyes—you will
see if you are hurting. If the person
still feels pain, stop. Think about your
injection technique, and inject again.
After you finish treatment, always talk to the person about what you have
done. Tell the person what to expect, and how to be careful with the numb
area of the mouth:
• The area will feel normal again in about 1 hour.
• Do not bite or scratch the area while there is no feeling.
• Do not drink anything hot. It can burn the skin inside the mouth.
With a child, always place a ball of cotton between the teeth on the side
where you injected. The child should leave it there for 2 hours, until the area
feels normal again. Explain this to the mother, and give her a bit of extra
cotton to take home. It is much better for the child to chew cotton instead of
the numb lip or cheek!
Try not to hurt anyone. You can treat a bad tooth
easier, faster, and without pain if you inject local
anesthetic slowly and carefully into the right place.