No Adrenaline Please

Going to the dentist is a much hated proposition for many people but if you have an anxiety disorder this can be an extraordinary ordeal of cosmic proportions.

O.K. that was clearly an exaggeration however it can really be difficult to go and see a dentist if you have a “nervous problem”.

In my last post (Dental Debacle ) I wrote about my hellish visit to the dentist. It was all related to an “overdose” or more accurately a misplacement of local anesthetic that contained adrenaline without me knowing it.

And although I did include a no adrenaline warning on my last post I wanted to provide some clear information on why this is important for those of us that have anxiety disorders.

For starters Novocaine is rarely used in modern dentistry. This is mainly because it takes too long to take effect and causes allergic reactions in some people. Nowadays dentist most commonly use lidocaine (a.k.a xylocaine).

For procedures that take a while to complete a dentist may employ marcaine which is a long-lasting anesthetic. These drugs are used as a local anesthetic and will not effect the rest of your body or mind in any dangerous way.

The only problem however is if the dentist uses these drugs with epinephrine (adrenaline) added to the mix. This is because adrenaline may trigger palpitations, muscle twitching, sweating and a general sense of panic.

In case you’re wondering adrenaline is added (the drugs come with or without) because it provides the dentist with some significant advantages and it’s not that he/she is secretly trying to freak you out.

It turns out that when you add adrenaline to the mix it helps to constrict the blood vessels in the area of the injection. This helps to stop or at least minimize bleeding while work is being done. The second benefit is that it prolongs the effects of the drug – in this case the numbing effect so that you can be injected less.

There are also other drugs, such as carbocaine , that can be used as the anesthetic. But what is important is not the type of “caine” used it is that you tell your dentist “no adrenaline please”. This can make your day, and your dentist’s day, more pleasant. If you don’t mind getting poked a few more times than this is the way to go. Simply tell your dentist that you want the local anesthetic that does not contain adrenaline.

If you prefer to get it all done with fewer shots than consider some of these tips.

1. Talk to your dentist and be clear about your anxiety. You don’t have to go into detail and hand over all your medical records pertaining to your anxiety, but just make it clear that you are very uneasy with getting dental work done. This will hopefully tell the dentist that he/she should be gentle and that they should expect potentially sudden signs of panic on your end. Communication is key for you both because it can go a long way in informing the dental staff on how to treat you.

2. If you decide to allow the adrenaline for the sake of less bleeding, more numbness and fewer injections than you have to know that if you do have an adverse reaction (like me) it is not dangerous. If you know that you’re in good health and have no heart conditions than the bottom line is that you might experience a nasty adrenaline rush, but no more.

3. You can also consider taking anxiety medication for the visit. Taking a small dose of an anti-anxiety drug might be a good alternative. Although I don’t support the use of drugs over any long-term period, using it in this instance would not be the worst thing in the world.

4. You can also have the doctor try laughing gas to take off the edge.

5. You can also listen to some soothing music over head phones to help you relax.

Whatever method(s) you decide to employ the last thing you want to do is avoid the dentist all together. This can actually cause serious health problems down the line. If you neglect your pearly whites it can lead to gum disease and tooth loss which may contribute to heart disease. Don’t let your fears get in the way of you protecting your long-term health.

Listen, I hate the dentist as much as the next guy, but I also understand the importance of visiting the white washed torture chamber from time to time. It’s o.k. to be afraid but just don’t let it stop you from doing what you have to do. Despite my ordeal I’m still here crunching away on my keyboard so you’ll be fine as well. As a matter of fact I’m due for a follow-up in two weeks and I plan to be there gritted teeth and all.

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