What do they give you at the dentist to make your mouth numb?

Several choices: There are several different anesthetics the dentist can use based on different criteria such as length of time needed to be numb, health problems, and what tooth you are numbing. The most common anesthetic used is lidocaine. Articaine is also a very popular anesthetic, esp when numbing a lower tooth. Some others are mepivicaine, bupivicaine, vivicaine, prilocaine, and a list of about 5-7 more.

Usually lidocaine: Most people still refer dental anesthetics as novacaine but most dentists no longer use novacaine because there is a higher incidence of allergies. Most dentists will use 2% Lidocaine with out without epinephrine. There are also other anesthetics such as articaine, bupivicaine, mepvicaine. They are used for patient with allergies, medical conditions, or desired length of anesthesia.

Numerous : The type of "novocaine" used varies, depending on the dentist (we each have our "favorites), how many carpules (vials) are going to be used and the duration we need the mouth numb. ..30 mins-several hours. Your medical status will also dictate whether with Epinephrine or without Epinephrine is used.

Local anesthetics: Various topical and injected local anesthetics.

Lidocaine : Today Lidocaine is commonly used. Also a version without Epinephrine is used for people who are "epi "sensitive, or with an Epinephrine allergy mepivocaine is one of the non-epinephrine varieties.