Sedation Dentist Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

A Procedure Where It Was Almost Impossible to Get Numb

Posted on August 31, 2023 by writeradmin.

I recently had a tooth extracted. It was my bottom, left back molar. I think my dentist called it tooth #18. I have three major concerns that I need to ask someone other than my dentist about. First, it took multiple shots to get me numb. I lost count at 13 and was just crying by them. Is this normal? Second, a few days after the extraction, a bone spur appeared at the site. I wasn’t thrilled with the deal of going back to the dentist after the extraction, but it hurt so much any time someting even brushed it (including my tongue) that I had to. It took the dentist about 30 minutes to deal with that. Now, about eight days later, the extraction site has a sharp ridge. It’s also still painful for me to swallow and eat. I don’t even try to smile anymore. I think I’ve lost confidence in this dentist and I don’t know what to do about this ridge or even if any of this experience was normal.

Mary

Dear Mary,

You have definitely had a rough go of things. Let’s start with the problem getting numb as this will impact every dental appointment you have. I highly doubt your dentist missed the tooth area that many times. The underlying issue more likely lies in a dental anxiety issue combined with your dentist not understanding how that impacts your ability to get numb.

As your anxiety goes up, it gets harder and harder for your body to stay numb. This is because your metabolism jumps up during that anxiety and burns off the numbing medication. This is why it was so difficult for you to get and stay numb. Now for the good news. There is a solution to this.

Pain Free Dental Procedures

My suggestion is you go to a dentist who offers dental sedation. In some cases, all you need is nitrous oxide. This is a mild form of sedation that relaxes you. It is sometimes called laughing gas because of the floaty feeling it gives you. It has the benefit of allowing you to immediately get on with your day because, once the procedure is over, they switch the gas to oxygen and you are back to normal in just a few moments.

Some patients have such a high anxiety level, however, that they need something a bit stronger. If you are in that camp, my suggestion is oral conscious sedation. This takes a little more preparation. While it is administered by a pill, this pill is so strong that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you at home until you are lucid and steady on your feet.

Your Other Questions

The bone spur puzzles me. I don’t have a lot of information about it. What I can say is that dentists should try their best to remove any loose pieces of bone, etc. As for the sharp ridge, I have more information. When the tooth is first removed, the socket will have a sharp edge to it. You didn’t notice it because the gum tissue is over it and a bit swollen. As it heals the gum goes back to normal size and the sharp edges are then on the surface. If it is causing you a problem, your dentist can smooth it or clip it.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James E. Williams.

Can Novocaine Make You Tremble?

Posted on June 30, 2022 by writeradmin.

A friend of mine had to have a crown placed and they gave her novocaine. She said it caused her to shake and tremble. I’ve never heard of that before. Could she be allergic to this? If so, is there an alternative?

Percy

Dear Percy,

You seem like a good friend who cares to be writing on her behalf. While there is some Epinephrine in Novocain, I do not think there is enough of it in the medication to cause the reaction you are describing. In fact, there is more Epiniephrine in her body naturally than she would have received during treatment. The most likely cause of her reaction is dental anxiety. She may not even realize she is dealing with anxiety. The good news is there is a solution which can completely relax her at all future dental appointments.

Your friend will need to find a dentist who offers dental sedation. There are different levels of sedation and I always recommend using the lowest level necessary. If all she needs to do is get a bit relaxed before her appointment, nitrous oxide may be all she needs. This is administered by a nose piece and has the benefit of allowing her to drive herself to and from her appointment as well as go about her day as she normally would when things are completed.

If her anxiety is too strong for that, then she will require oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill. However, it is really strong. In fact, it is so strong that she will need someone to help her get to and from her dental appointment as well as stay with her for a few hours afterward until she is steady on her feet again.

Let your friend know about these options and I doubt she’ll have that kind of reaction again.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington Kentucky Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Pain Free Dental Care for Recovering Addicts

Posted on January 19, 2022 by writeradmin.

I spent over a year in the hospital because of a hit and run. After I was released, the pain was hard to deal with and I developed an opiate addiction. I’ve since been working hard to get past that and am in an outpatient treatment program that uses methadone maintenance as I learn to deal with the pain that I will have the remainder of my life. One of the things I wanted to improve was my appearance and the health of my teeth. I need a lot of work thanks to the time in the hospital and recovery afterward. The appointment I went to required a root canal treatment that was excruciating and he refused to give me any pain medication due to the fact that I’m an “addict”. I had offered to give him the number to my program counselor and let him discuss my progress in depth, but he treated me like I was unworthy of his time. I do want to get my oral health in order and would love to have a smile I am proud of, especially since so much of the rest of me is scarred from the accident. Do you know how I can find a dentist with enough compassion to not expect me to suffer?

Andrea

Dear Andrea,

I am so sorry for all you have been through. I am equally sorry for the way you were treated at the dental office you went to. It sounds like he’s had bad experiences in the past and is taking it out on you. You are in a tough spot. One of the things you will run up against is the fear many dentists have of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). An overzealous agent can destroy a dentist’s career and practice. Some dentists have been closed down simply for being compassionate. As other dentists hear these stories, it makes them wary of ending up in the same boat.

Your best option is to call around to different sedation dentists. They tend to run more on the side of compassion. Explain your situation as you did to me. I feel certain you will find someone willing to help you. If your counselor okays it, you will find that you can get more work done at each appointment with oral conscious sedation. That would be my recommendation to you because you can get caught up on your dental care faster.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Burning Mouth Syndrome or Zirconia Allergy

Posted on December 31, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have a hard time at every single dental visit. This last one was no different. I had two zirconia crowns put on. Since then, I have had horrible try mouth and my mouth, tongue, and throat have been burning. I’ve been to the doctor and two ENTs. All have said there is no acid reflux and were baffled. The last one mentioned the possibility of burning mouth syndrome. I’ve asked about the possibility of an allergy to the zirconia but they all insist that no one is allergic to zirconia. I don’t know what to do?

Grace

Dear Grace,

I get annoyed when dentists or other practitioners say there is “NO” chance you can be allergic to something. The human body is remarkably unique for each individual and saying that no one can be allergic is short sighted at best.

That being said, your symptoms are consistent with burning mouth syndrome. While we don’t know the actual cause, there is a consistent connection with patients who report these symptoms. Each of them has a pattern of both dental anxiety and traumatic experiences at the dentist.

You will want to do something to help with the dry mouth, which in turn may help with the other symptoms you are experiencing:

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco use
Drink water regularly
If you need mouthwash, make certain it does not contain alcohol. There are some mouthwashes specifically designed for dry mouth
Avoid over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants, which will worsen your symptoms.

How to Have Positive Dental Experiences

When a patient is dealing with dental trauma, I always recommend they see a sedation dentist for their treatment. Specifically look for someone who offers oral conscious sedation. Nitrous oxide is fine for mild anxiety, but your experiences hint to me you will need something stronger. These dentists are skilled at working with fearful patients and have compassion for what you’ve dealt with.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

High Resistance to Novocain

Posted on October 30, 2021 by writeradmin.

I need some advice. Dental appointments are a complete nightmare for me. My dentist has never been able to get me numb before. It didn’t matter how many shots he gave me, I would still be in agony. As a result, as you can imagine, I need a lot of work done. Is there any way to help me with this? I’d really love to get control of my dental health. I’m desperate because my mouth is a mess and it is getting embarrassing.

Marie

Dear Marie,

I want to first give you some peace in knowing that there is a solution to what you are going through. I am sorry you have had to endure so many painful appointments. There are quiet a few dentists who do not yet know there is a very real connection between dental anxiety and the ineffecutalness of numbing medication. By that I mean, the higher your dental anxiety, the less likely the numbing medication is to work. That sounds like a terrible inverse, doesn’t it? Here is the good news. There is a fix.

What you need is a dentist who offers dental sedation. This will allow you to have a pain-free/anxiety-free dental appointment. How it works is the medication relaxes you, which in turn keeps your body from metabolizing the numbing medication too quickly. Given the number of painful appointments you have, I am going recommend you find a dentist who offers oral conscious sedation.

This is a stronger medication. It is administered by a pill. However, it is so powerful that you will need to have someone drive you to and fron your appoinment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment. There is an additional benefit to you as well. Using oral conscious sedation will allow you to get more work done at each appointment, giving you the ability to get your oral health care under control faster.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Novocaine Doesn’t Work for Me

Posted on April 28, 2021 by writeradmin.

Can you help me? I have never had a dental procedure where Novocain worked for me. This is true no matter how many shots they give me. Because of this, all my dental procedures have been excruciating. It is to the point where I only go if there is no other choice because of a tooth infection. My mouth is a wreck as a result. Is there any hope I can have a healthy smile?

Mandy

Dear Mandy,

I am so sorry for all you have been through. The fact that you are trying to get to the dentist again says a lot about your courage. I also feel confident I can help you.

There is a phenomenon that many dentists are still unaware of that pertains to this very issue. We have found there is a connection between dental anxiety and Novocaine resistance. In other words, the more anxious a patient is going in to a procedure, the higher the likelihood the Novocaine will not work for them. We’re not certain as to why. Some speculate it is a metabolism issue, meaning that your metabolism jumps up during anxiety which in turn burns off the numbing medication too quickly for it to be effective.

The solution is to go to a dentist who is willing to use a relaxant, such as you’d find with dental sedation. I suggest you do an internet search for a sedation dentist. In your case, I would specifically look for one who offers oral conscious sedation.

This is so strong that most patients sleep through their procedures. The only real downside is you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you at home for a few hours until you are lucid and steady on your feet again.

In addition to giving you a completely relaxed experience at the dentist, it will also allow you to catch up on your needed dental work much faster because you are able to have more procedures done at each appointment. Before you know it, you will have a healthy, beautiful smile once more with no more dental emergencies.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Weaver.

Novocain Didn’t Work for My Daughter

Posted on January 23, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have an eleven-year-old daughter who developed a tooth infection. The dentist gave her Novocain but it didn’t work. She was in agony. I eventually had to stop the procedure because I couldn’t stand the pain she was in. I was also a little distressed that the dentist didn’t even seem to care about what she was enduring. I am going to switch pediatric dentists, for obvious reasons, however I still have to deal with my daughter’s infection. Do you know why the Novocain didn’t work? If so, is there a way to get her numb?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

I am so sorry both you and your daughter had to experience that. I do believe I know what happened with the Novocain and know what will help. I can tell you are a kind and caring mother, so you will know that the infection will have to be dealt with before it has a chance to spread. These type of issues are considered a dental emergency. The first thing I would do is ask for an antibiotic to help hold off the infection briefly while you find the dentist you need to handle this. It is a short, temporary solution. Tooth infections are not treated by antibiotics, they are just held at bay for a period. The only way to get rid of the infection is for a dentist to physically remove the infected tissue.

Many dentists are not yet aware that there is a connection between dental anxiety and numbing medication. While we don’t understand why, we do know that higher a person’s anxiety the less effective the numbing medication is. The solution is to help bring down her anxiety before the procedure. The best way to do that is to see a pediatric dentist who offers dental sedation options.

There are different levels of sedation. Nitrous oxide is the lowest. However, given her recent experience, I think you need to find a dentist who offers oral conscious sedation. This is much stronger and is often called sleep dentistry. She will be quite loopy so you’ll want to keep an eye on her for a few hours after the procedure. It is perfectly safe and she will wake up with her procedure done.

Then, for the next few procedures she can use the nitrous oxide. This helps relax her and she will very likely fall asleep, but she will not be loopy when the procedure is over. With this sedation they will switch the gas back to oxygen and she’ll be back to normal in a few moments.

Hopefully, a few good procedures will enable her fear and anxiety to become controlled by her instead of medication.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Dentist Cut My Tongue

Posted on November 7, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have never loved going to the dentist but I’ve never had one of those horror story experiences until this week. I was having a cavity filled and decided to get some nitrous oxide which they told me would relax me. It didn’t really do much for me so I don’t think it is worth the extra money. However, I am writing because during the procedure the dentist slipped and cut the underside of my tongue. Not only did I feel it, but I heard both of them gasp when it happened. When I approached him about it, he said patients bite themselves all the time during procedures. I sort of feel like he owes me an apology and maybe a partial refund, but he’s not even being honest about what happened. What do you recommend I do?

Meredith

Dear Meredith,

While you can ask for both, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. It sounds like he has already moved into a defensive posture. I don’t think you are going to get very far with him. In some cases, you can get your money back with a lawsuit, but in this case, I don’t believe you will get very far. That type of case is difficult to determine objectively without significant evidence. The best you will probably be able to do is write a bad review and get a new dentist.

When you do get a new dentist, I would like you to get a sedation dentist. There are a few little hints in what you wrote that make me think that will be a huge benefit for you.

You have never loved going to the dentist. Sometimes this is code for “dentists make me nervous, which is more common than you would think.
Anxiety burns off numbing medication. When you get anxious in the dental chair, especially after a bad experience, your body kicks into overdrive. This burns off the numbing medicine making it difficult to get and keep you numb during your procedures.
The nitrous oxide seemed to be ineffective on you. This is usually a sign of someone who needs a stronger sedation option. Your best option is to find someone who offers oral conscious sedation.

This option will completely relax you, provide an anxiety-free and pain-free dental appointment. I think you’ll be much happier at the dentist the next time you need a procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Burning Mouth Syndrome

Posted on September 16, 2020 by writeradmin.

Since having a zirconia crown placed on a back tooth, I’ve had a burning aching throat and a dry tongue. We’ve eliminated allergies to things like the zirconia and any mouthwash or toothpaste I’m using. This has been another problem after dental work in a series of dental disasters. From a previous procedure, I had lingual nerve damage that took over a year to get better. One thing that may be a factor is the excessive amount of water the dentist needed to use during the procedure cause me to choke and need to stop several times. I can see how this would cause my throat to hurt for a few days, but not for as longa s it has been hurting. I’ve been to a couple of doctors. One can’t figure out anything. Another said it is burning mouth syndrome, but doesn’t know what can help it. Have you heard of this?

Brooke

Dear Brooke,

I agree with the assessment the one doctor gave you about burning mouth syndrome. Though it has been said there is no understood cause for burning mouth syndrome, there has been a pretty good link between dental trauma and burning mouth syndrome.

You’ve mentioned several issues that seem to be directly related to the connections seen. Your choking during the procedure, the lingual nerve damage that happened at your last appointment. Given the fact that you still need more work and the experiences you’ve had, it is no surprise your body is reacting.

The simplest solution for this issue is to see a sedation dentist. If you get a strong enough level of sedation, such as oral conscious sedation (OCS), it will relax you completely. You’ll be able to have an anxiety-free/pain-free appointment. Those who have suffered with dental anxiety and used OCS have found it completely changes their life. If you want to, you can even sleep through your apartment.

I think if you have a positive dental experience, it will go a long way toward helping with the symptoms you are experiencing.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Over Ten Shots to Get me Numb!

Posted on June 8, 2020 by writeradmin.

It seriously took over twelve shots to get me numb for a single tooth extraction. It was a miserable experience. Now, I’ve got this sharp bone place where the tooth was. Did my dentist do something wrong? After my experience in the office, I have sort of lost confidence in his abilities.

Heather

Dear Heather,

Let’s start with the shots. While it is possible your dentist kept missing the injection site, doing it that many times would be unlikely. I’m pretty sure he’d have a reputation on YELP or Google Reviews by now if it took that many tries with all his patients. The more likely thing is an issue many dentists don’t realize are connected — dental anxiety and Novocain.

It is normal to feel a tad nervous at the dentist’s office, especially when you need more than a cleaning and checkup. For some, though, their anxiety level rises to the point that their metabolism kicks in to help with fight or flight. When that happens, the Novocain either becomes less effective or burns off too quickly.

Even though, your dentist may not have done anything wrong here it sounds like he may not be the right dentist for your situation. Instead, I would look for someone who offers dental sedation options. There are several levels of sedation, depending on your level of anxiety. This will allow you to have a stress-free and pain-free dental appointment. Many patients who have avoided the dentist for years find that it completely changes their life.

The Bony Ridge

Believe it or not, this is normal. when your tooth was first extracted the socket had a sharp edge to it. You didn’t notice the edge because your gums were covering it. Now that the extraction site is healing, it’s shrinking down and is visible. If it becomes an issue, your dentist can clip it.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.