Patient comfort is paramount in dentistry today.  The majority of in-office dental procedures require the use of novocaine or xylocaine, the lowest level of anesthesia.  This type of anesthesia is injected directly into the area the dentist will be working on and generally wears off within a few hours.  Nococaine and xylocaine are considered analgesia, which reduces pain while the patient is conscious and maintains full physical capacities.  The next level of anesthesia is called conscious sedation which renders the patient in a lower level of consciousness but still able to breathe independently and respond to verbal direction. 

Deep sedation is the next level of anesthesia which produces a very low level of consciousness in the patient, but the patient is not able to breathe on his or her own.  The fourth level of anesthesia is general anesthesia.  When general anesthesia is used, the patient is in a controlled state of unconsciousness and unable to breathe independently.  While the conscious, deep and general types of anesthesia are not used often in the dental office, they are necessary at times.  Dentists should discuss the various anesthesia options to their patients. And, patients should disclose all medical information and allergies to the dentist prior to receiving anesthesia.