NetWellness Dental Anesthesia

Post Novocaine Headache

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:11:00 EST

Question: My son has had novocaine administered to fill cavities two times. Both times he had a migraine-like headache after the procedure. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? What are the options for dental anesthesia that may not effect him this way? He has to have another filling soon.

Answer: This is not a typical response to local anesthesia and may, in fact, not be a local anesthesia adverse effect per se. First, you say "migraine-like" headache so it is not clear if you mean true migraine or a severe headache.

Migraine is usually throbbing with associated nausea and/or vom . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Sneezing/Runny Nose After Fillings and Veneer

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:11:00 EST

Question: I`m a 42-year-old very healthy woman with no known allergies. Today I had two small cavities filled in the bottoms of my upper left back molars, as well as my two front teeth prepared for veneers, with temporaries put on for now. I received nitrous throughout and several anesthetic injections at the . . .

Answer: Thank you for your question. This is probably not due to the nitrous oxide.

There are a couple of possibilities: One is that if local anesthetic may have been given close to the nasal cavity which can cause irritation and these symptoms. This should be gone within 24 hours.

T . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Immunity to Local Anesthetics

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:11:00 EST

Question: I am a 48 year old female, over the years I have had several teeth pulled by different dentist`s. I have also had a few lacerations that required stitches. With one exception I have never had local anesthetic work. That dentist used something besides novacaine and it was wonderful to be numb. Do you . . .

Answer: It appears you have two questions. One is which local anesthetic was used, and you will have to contact your dentist. This will be listed on your medical record the dentist maintains. Local anesthetics are not universally effective, and dentist anesthesiologists (htt . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Problem After Having Fillings

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:11:00 EST

Question: I recently had some fillings done at my dentist`s office. Everything went fine until I got up from the chair. I felt really light headed and literally ran into the wall, I felt like I was drunk, very drunk. I had the shakes, thought about calling my husband to come and get me instead of driving b . . .

Answer: I am sorry, but I don't have enough information to answer your question. Most important would be your age, current medical conditions, current medications, what was done at your appointment, type and amount of anesthetic used, what were your vital signs when these symptoms occurred, etc. It may be . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Questions Regarding My Teeth

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST

Question: Several yrs ago following a pregnancy, I was seen by a dentist that had told me my teeth were very sensitive,and i shouldve been placed on calcium due to the calcium being removed from my teeth,at that time i showed a few surface cavities between my teeth in the back on both sides of my jaw,now . . .

Answer: If your teeth are very sensitive with dental cleaning, a couple things can be tried. Warm water can be used in the cleaning instruments and rinsing if the office is equipped to do this. Then there should be no problem. Alternatively, you can receive regular local anesthetic, like for a filling to ge . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Accidental Injection of Lidocaine into Vein

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST

Question: My wife has been to the dentist for a filling. The dentist accidentally injected lidocaine containing epinephrine into a vein. She had alot of severe chest pains, high blood pressure and heart rate. I took her to hospital and they have been managing her for the last 5 days. These waves of attack hav . . .

Answer: I am so sorry to hear of your difficulties. The injection of local anesthetic, with or without epinephrine, into a vein happens in both medicine and dentistry with some frequency. Steps are taken to reduce this, but even with appropriate technique, this can still occur.

I am not aware of . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Carbocaine at Dentist

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST

Question: I`ve had cavities before and never had a problem with getting fillings. I do have allergies but they are penicillin, ancef, sulfa, molds etc. This summer I had a reaction to having a filling with Carbocaine with eppy. My heart was racing and I felt lightheaded. I got tested at my allergist and altho . . .

Answer: Although I can not be sure of the exact problem, and I do not know your medical history and current medications, it does appear that these reactions are due to anxiety. For some people, especially those taking certain medications, this can occur even with mild anxiety.

You may want to di . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

BP Drop After Being Given Lidocane

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:10:00 EST

Question: I have had reactions to lidocane in the past.Duing dental work I would become weak,feel as if I was drugged or drunk and unable to walk, talk or think well. Totally unable to drive. Then I found out that my BP and pulse was extremely low at these times. After a GYN procedure they would not let me le . . .

Answer: This is very hard to determine since I know nothing of you medical history, age, medications, type of anesthetic used, etc.�

Low blood pressure with low pulse rate is usually associated with syncope (fainting or near fainting) in the dental setting. This may be due to an overa . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Reaction to Novacaine

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST

Question: I`ve been putting off dental work because the last couple of times my dentist used novacaine I had pain in my chest cavity. I`m possitive this is not caused by anixety, but rather a reaction to the medication. I also experience rapid heart rate, but I don`t know if that is caused by the reation of t . . .

Answer: The usual cause of chest discomfort with local anesthesia is related to the epinephrine ("adrenaline" like in an adrenaline rush) added to the local anesthetic to increase effectiveness and duration of action.

However,There are local anesthetics that do not contain this medication . The . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia

Jaw Pain Weeks after Dental Anesthetic

Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:09:00 EST

Question: Today`s date: 9-21-09 On 8-26-09 had a temporary crown installed, lower lefthand side. STILL HAVE some pain in jaw when I open mouth to eat.

Someone in the same dental office examined the situation on 9-9-09 (and made minor adjustment to the temp crown - the adjustment was not related to the pr . . .

Answer: This could be a number of things. The diagnosis is difficult without clinical examination and correlation with a careful history. I do appreciate your detail, but it is not complete from a diagnostic standpoint.

I will comment on your thought about the injection, however, being associate . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Ganzberg SB, DMD, MS, Dental Anesthesia