I have a very high resistance to Novocain which has made my dental care a nightmare. It got so bad I stopped going. I need to get control of this. Is there anything I can do to make this easier, like a different numbing medicine? I need to have three teeth extracted by the look (and feel) of things. I’m terrified about going in but know I need to. I also want to find a way to go on a more regular basis.
Terry
Dear Terry,
I know exactly how to help you. When someone has a high resistance to Novocain, it usually means there is some dental anxiety going on. That would also make perfect sense with the trauma you’ve experienced with your past appointments. The anxiety you’re experiencing is what causes the Novocain to wear off so quickly.
The way to solve this problem is to take a medication that relaxes you before your procedure. This will put you in a calm state and allow your numbing medicine to work to its full potency. This is done using a dentist who offers sedation options and works with anxious patients.
Options in Dental Sedations
There are two common forms of dental sedation. The first is nitrous oxide. This is the mildest form but may be all you need. This is simply a matter of you breathing the gas through a nosepiece. Its biggest advantage is once you’re done, your dentist switches the gas from nitrous to oxygen. In just a few moments you are completely good to go and ready to get on with your day.
The next level is oral conscious sedation. This is a pill you’ll take before your appointment. It is very strong. It’s so strong you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. They’ll also need to stay with you until you are lucid and steady on your feet after your appointment, which could take several hours.
This is so strong, you will be completely relaxed. Most patients sleep through their appointment.
You’ll also find you’ll be better able to catch up with your dental work because you can get more done at each appointment.
I know you’re needing to extract some teeth. Talk to your dentist about the possibility of getting dental implants to replace those teeth. This is the top choice and will be like having healthy, natural teeth in your mouth again.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Sedation Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.