After a dental procedure, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area around the treated tooth. This numbness is temporary and will usually wear off within a few hours. However, the duration of the numbness can vary depending on the type of anesthetic used and the individual's metabolism.
The most common type of local anesthetic used in dentistry is lidocaine. Lidocaine typically wears off within 2 to 4 hours. However, some people may experience numbness for a longer period of time. This is more likely to occur in people who have a slow metabolism or who have taken certain medications that can interact with the anesthetic.