Q&A: Painless dental injections?

I've heard that there are painless dental injections. Could that be true? —D.N., Sun City West, Ariz.

Almost, if your dentist uses the right techniques. First the gum surface is numbed by swabbing on a topical anesthetic. After waiting several minutes for numbing to set in, the dentist inserts the needle very slowly, with frequent pauses. That gives the injected anesthetic time to numb the tissue just ahead of the advancing needle, and it permits anesthetic liquid to enter the region gradually, without creating painful pressure. Some dentists even use a computerized syringe designed to inject at the ideal pace.

To further reduce discomfort, the dentist may apply finger pressure to your gum to help numb it before the injection, or jiggle and stretch your cheek to distract your attention during the procedure. If your dentist doesn't use those methods, you may want to ask him or her to try them.

For more on your dental health, read more on preventing gum disease and get the lowdown on tooth whiteners.

—Aaron Bailey