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OT-had a bad reaction to novacaine

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Posted 2/5/2010 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I went to the dentist yesterday for a simple filling in my upper right molar.  The dentist (who I have been seeing for 10 years) gave me a shot of novacaine.  So as I was waiting for the numbing to happen in full, the dentist came back and asked me if I was numb (not looking at me because she was arranging her tools) and I told her that it felt like my cheek was huge.  She turns around and looks at me and then her eyes widen and told me it's because it is HUGE! For some reason the novacaine medication went into my cheek instead of in the bone around the tooth for some reason and my cheek had swollen up to at least 3-4 the normal size.  I look like a chipmunk with a mouthful of nuts!  Plus I am bruised around my outer lip area on the side of my cheek. 

Ok, I am 40 years old and have been going to the dentist for at least 34 years, have had tons of dental work including having my wisdom teeth removed, a zillion shots of novacaine and never never ever has my cheek ever done this.  So my dentist called my doctor and my doctor wants to declare it as an allergic reaction even though my dentist doesn't think it's an allergic reaction just some sort of strange incidence.  Has anyone had such a reaction to novacaine and in the future did it ever happen again?  I would reallllllly hate to think I am allergic to novacaine because what else would I be able to use while having dental work???!!

Posted 2/5/2010 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Red,

I had a similar thing happen a couple of months ago while getting my teeth cleaned...bottom right quadrant. My top lip swelled up and my jaw line turned purple.

I went in a couple of weeks after and had the other side done. No problems whatsoever.

I think it may have something to do with where they stick you with the needle, and how fast they pump the Novocaine in. I used to be a dental assistant a hunnerd years ago. We would use the big fat yellow top needles for quick delivery and skinny blue top needles for slow delivery.

My dentist once told me that Novacaine breaks down into vitamin B. But that was years ago.

I had a friend who had a jab and it paralyzed the side of her face for several years. So, I think the dentists have to be careful where they are sticking you because of all the facial nerves. What happened to you may well have been a fluke with the needle and too rapid a release of Novacaine. Don't expect any dentist to admit to it, though.
Posted 2/5/2010 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Sherry...that does not sound fun at all! Sorry to hear.
I don't know if you remember but awhile back I posed the question about the effect of novacaine on others. Everyone responded that they
have never had a problem. The reason I asked the question was b/c I was thinking about the NUMEROUS trips to the dentist I have had (have
bad teeth just hereditary, or thanks to my U/C...who knows!) to try & recollect if I flared after a treatment. Anyway, I am a very tall girl & even though I am thin have always required extra shots b/c 1 never does the trick. I have noticed that sometimes it has a different effect on me...very strange! Sometimes the swelling is very slight (but never as bad as yours) but noticeable. Also, sometimes it takes like 12 + hours to leave my system (not right!) & I have also experienced an abnormal ringing in my ear on occasion & soarness at the sight for days. So, short of someone telling me I have an allergy to it, I just assume that I do. The problem is that "happy gas" does nothing for me either so I am forced to take the novacaine b/c there is nothing worse than the pain of a tooth gone bad (I birthed a baby w/o pain med & that hurt less!!!) I wish I knew of something else but I don't. As it stands right now, I need some work done but given my current state I don't want to chance anything. Who knows if it does contribute to my U/C symptoms...no clue & with prednisone still in the mix ( I am finally down to 7.5 mgs a day) God only knows what the heck kind of strange reaction could happen!
Posted 2/5/2010 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, forgot to say, it could be just like any other drug...maybe your body just does not like it anymore!!
Posted 2/5/2010 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry,

Find out what drug it was because there is no such thing as novacaine; it's a generic term. It could have been lidocaine or carbocaine, or several others. If you are truly allergic then you will want to know the exact derivative of "caine".

Sue
Posted 2/5/2010 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Ohhh I didn't know that Sue! I will call my dentist tomorrow to see what they used since they are closed today. I sincerely hope that it's not lidocaine because that is the numbing medication that I get with my cortisone injections in my bulging discs of my neck - eek! If it is lidocaine, do you suppose my cortisone injections with lidocaine could mean a sensitivity to it now?

Colleen, I'm the same way. I am naturally thin with a fast metabolism (though it's slowing down now due to middle age! boo) and usually I have to have more then one shot to keep the area numb during dental procedures and then it takes forever to get out of my system.

Squattie, I didn't know that either about the speed of the injection. I have been with this dentist for a long time and have had numerous injections of novacaine with no issue. Guess it wasn't my lucky day huh? lol
Posted 2/5/2010 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Sue- Thank you so much for sharing that info. I had no idea! Now if only I knew which bothers me w/o the having to go through
process of elimination!! ooch!
Posted 2/5/2010 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and I forgot to mention that since this happened, I have a headache from hades! I started getting it right after she gave me the shot. Now it feels like my head is in a vice. :(
Posted 2/5/2010 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Holy crap Sherry!!!! Did the doc suggest you take a Benadryl or antihistamine?
Did she at least call you today?

I think you should go and see your allergist asap after you find out the exact drug you were given (thank you Sue!!!!).

I going to put in an order for a bubble for you to live in. I hear they will accommodate a Harley as well as long as your husband won't mind...;-)

Please keep us posted as to how you're doing.

maybe one of your normal pain killers would be OK to take for the headache?

WOW....this is so scary.

Take care,

H xx
Posted 2/5/2010 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
The dentist mentioned that if I start developing a rash or have difficulty in swallowing or breathing to go to the ER but luckily none of that happened. Just the chipmunk cheek and bruising. She did tell me that when I get home to ice the area and take my Celebrex which I did. The swelling is there today but at least I can see my cheekbone now. I always take Tylonel 8 hour to deal with my arthritis pain along with the Celebrex but it isn't really helping much with the headache :(

Of all the weekends for this to happen too! I am supposed to go out tonight and meet up with some friends, then tomorrow we are going out again for a friends birthday and on Sunday we are going to another friends house for the Superbowl. So instead of going out looking normal, I get to go out looking like I got beat up! Hey, that gave me an good idea, maybe I should create a fantastical story about how my cheek swelled up and the bruising just mess with people! hehe

But hey, if that bubble has room for the Harley then of course my husband won't mind! LOL
Posted 2/5/2010 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Of COURSE it would happen on a weekend you have plans every day! It just wouldn't be YOU if it didn't. LOL....

Best to tell the true story, it'll still mess with their heads since they probably get freezing with dental work too. But....you could ask each of them firstly what they think happened and then tell the truth.

OK, Harley size bubble it is. Wish there really was one, then I I'd get one of my own...that would make my husband happy since he loves bikes. No, he doesn't have a Harley, but if I was interested or could tolerate the exhaust fumes, he'd get one for sure.

Hope you improve over the weekend and that it doesn't ruin the plans you already have.

q
Posted 2/6/2010 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
The shot probably was Zylocaine. Yep, it can cause problems if injected too fast or in the wrong place. That happened to me a couple decades ago-- in upper right quadrant. I was left with a hard purplish swelling in the gum, about the size of a marble. Next time I got dental hygiene the hygienist commented that the dentist had goofed when injecting me before work on a molar filling. Eventually I got rid of the "marble", but after ca. 5 yrs I developed a root canal problem in one of the neighboring teeth. S0-- definitely not fun. I changed dentists after that & the younger one told me he always uses Carbocaine for patients with sensitivities-- because it does not contain epinephrine. Carbocaine wears off faster than the other -caines for that reason, he said. It works well for me & he takes care to inject slowly. Sherry-- stay away from your unsympathetic SIL 'til this blows over! (LOL) / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/6/2010 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Ugh, I hope that never happens to me, I need like seven, eight shots just for a filling. I just burn things off too fast. And I have another wisdom tooth to get rid of. Maybe I'll wait... it might be hard to babble in foreign languages with my mouth full of gauze! lol
Posted 2/6/2010 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Oh heck no, the SIL is not hearing about this one because she would tease me about it! LOL It's bad enough my kids and hubby has been lauging about it for the past couple days so I won't add another person! HA!

EP, yeah I don't think you want to practice a language with a mouthful of gauze or a swollen mouth! Maybe you should wait until you have a break from school huh? LOL

My swelling is way down today, I no longer have the chipmunk cheek turned basset hound droopy jowls. Now it just looks like I have gained a bit of weight on my right side only and the fat is in my face! But the bruise is now a lovely shade of purple. Oh I tried to cover it with make up yesterday and the only cover up I have is the smart shade technology - the one that starts out white and turns to the shade of your skin......well guess what happens when you apply that to blue skin? LOL
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