desensitizers
Agents diminishing reactivity
Desensitizers are substances or agents that reduce sensitivity.
In dentistry, a desensitizer numbs tooth surfaces to reduce pain from hot, cold, or touch.
In photography, desensitizers decrease film sensitivity to light.
The term extends to anything that dulls emotional or physical responsiveness: Critics argue violent media act as desensitizers to real-world suffering.
Pain-blocking substance
- lidocaineTopical numbing medication
- benzocaineTopical pain reliever
- topicalCurrently relevant or newsworthy
- injectionSyringe-delivered dose
numbing agent · nerve block · local anesthesia · cream · spray · patch · procedural · pretreatment
Anxiety treatment through confrontation
- habituationDiminished reaction over time
- acclimatizationAdjusting to new conditions
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- EMDRTrauma therapy using eye movements
trauma processing · gradual exposure · anxiety reduction · fear response · flooding · counterconditioning · relaxation response · stimulus
Causing loss of sensation
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- callousnessCruel emotional indifference
- indifferenceLack of interest
- hardeningBecoming less soft
inurement · jadedness · compassion fatigue · burnout · media saturation · apathy · dissociation · coping mechanism
Oral cleaning gel
- fluorideNegatively charged halogen ion
- potassium nitrateCrystalline potassium salt compound
- enamelHard glossy coating
- dentinTooth's main substance
nerve · gel · mouthwash · application · tubules · coating · protection · teeth whitening
One who acts independently
- compoundCombined into one
- additiveSubstance mixed in
- formulationDevised mixture or expression
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
active ingredient · carrier · stabilizer · preservative · water-soluble · topical solution · substrate · reagent
anesthetic
Pain-blocking substance
- lidocaineTopical numbing medication
- benzocaineTopical pain reliever
- topicalCurrently relevant or newsworthy
injection · numbing agent · nerve block · local anesthesia · cream · spray · patch · procedural · pretreatment · mucosa
exposure therapy
Anxiety treatment through confrontation
- habituationDiminished reaction over time
- acclimatizationAdjusting to new conditions
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
EMDR · trauma processing · gradual exposure · anxiety reduction · fear response · flooding · counterconditioning · relaxation response · stimulus · threshold
numbing
Causing loss of sensation
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- callousnessCruel emotional indifference
- indifferenceLack of interest
hardening · inurement · jadedness · compassion fatigue · burnout · media saturation · apathy · dissociation · coping mechanism · protective
toothpaste
Oral cleaning gel
- fluorideNegatively charged halogen ion
- potassium nitrateCrystalline potassium salt compound
- enamelHard glossy coating
dentin · nerve · gel · mouthwash · application · tubules · coating · protection · teeth whitening · gum recession
agent
One who acts independently
- compoundCombined into one
- additiveSubstance mixed in
- formulationDevised mixture or expression
concentration · active ingredient · carrier · stabilizer · preservative · water-soluble · topical solution · substrate · reagent · inhibitor
desensitizerssensitizers
Agents that increase reactivity
irritants · allergens · amplifiers · enhancers · activators
desensitizersstimulants
Agents that heighten arousal
amplifiers · stimulators · activators · energizers · arousers