It allows patients to undergo surgical and dental procedures with reduced pain and distress.
In many situations, such as cesarean section, it is safer and therefore superior to general anesthesia.
When it is used on specific nerve pathways (nerve block), effects such as analgesia (loss of pain sensation) and paralysis (loss of muscle power) can be achieved.
They differ from cocaine mainly in that they have no abuse potential and do not act on the sympathoadrenergic system, i.e. they do not produce hypertension or local vasoconstriction, with the exception of Ropivacaine and Mepivacaine that do produce weak vasoconstriction.
Unlike other forms of anesthesia, a local can be used for a minor procedure in a surgeon's office as it does not put one into a state of unconsciousness.