Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 9/23/2010

Question
In a few weeks I'm going to a specialist to get all four of my wisdom teeth pulled. I don't like needles and i wanted to be put to sleep, I was just wondering how the Emla patch would be? and if it would be good enough. I'm 23 years old, 5'5 and 200 lbs.

Answer
It wouldn't work. EMLA is a topical anesthetic so it is useful for people (especially kids) when they go for an IV or to have warts frozen off, etc. It doesn't penetrate very deep so it will definitely not give you pain relief for an extraction. Not many people LIKE needles, but once they numb you (it only hurts for a few seconds), there is nothing to worry about.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston