Most of these agents produce adequate loss of sensation, but some of them have more adverse reactions than the others and are hence not in common use.

Lidocaine happens to be the most commonly used anesthetic agent in dentistry today.

A typical anesthetic solution contains lidocaine, adrenaline, methyl paraben, sodium meta-bisulphate, sodium chloride and water to make the solution. Adrenaline is a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it constricts the vessels, thereby prolonging the action of the anesthetic. The other chemicals are reducing agents to lidocaine hydrochloride and adrenaline.