Novocaine wasn't kicking in at the dentist today. Anyone else ever have this?

[Cheetah8799]

So I went to the dentist today to get a few cavities filled. Ya, I'm a bad boy... The dentist shot me up with the Novocaine, as usual, and the top tooth went fine. The bottom of my jaw wouldn't go numb though! So we tried a second, and even a third application of the Novocaine, but it really wasn't kicking in very much.

The dentist explained to me that he has heard that sometimes this happens to people. He even had some courses recently where they explained that after two or three applications, if it doesn't work, just re-schedule for another day. It's like whichever nerve needs to be numbed is just "stubborn" that day. He said he definitely was getting it in the right spot, apparently they go by feel to determine if it's sliding along the nerve or something, but it just wouldn't numb up like it should.


So I'm curious, has anyone else here ever had this happen, or heard of it happening?

 

[Chunkee]

are you a smoker of tobacco products?

 

[theknight571]

Haven't had it not work.

But I have had them "drill" a cavity without it before.

Ok...so they didn't drill, but they used a new "sandblaster" tool, that sandblasted the decayed portion of the tooth away, instead of drilling it away.

It worked... some minor discomfort...but nothing major.

 

[MrBond]

The family dentist hates my Dad. Every time my Dad goes in there for something like that, he gives him a shot of Novocaine, then starts working right away before it takes effect.

I don't know why Dad keeps going there. I guess he's too stubborn to find a new dentist.

 

[Feldenak]

For some odd reason Novacaine doesn't work real well on me. I've been sent home from the dentist before because they "couldn't legally give me anymore novacaine".

 

[Bryophyte]

It never works for me. I end up getting enough shots to be numb from my forehead to my collarbone (including eyelid, nose, chin, etc), and I STILL feel pain in the tooth they're working on. It REALLY sucks.

 

[waggy]

yeah the first time i had a tooth removed.

they poked and i didn't feel it. but once he started working it fcking hurt like hell. i was yelling and such but he didn't stop. when he was finished i told him what was going on. i have not went back to that place.

though all the other times i have had the stuff it worked.

 

[nakedfrog]

I had to get three shots on the left side last month. I don't know what happened with the third one, but for a second it felt like my face was on fire. But after that, it was finally numb.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: waggy
yeah the first time i had a tooth removed.

they poked and i didn't feel it. but once he started working it fcking hurt like hell. i was yelling and such but he didn't stop. when he was finished i told him what was going on. i have not went back to that place.

though all the other times i have had the stuff it worked.

Man, what a jerk. I'd be pretty pissed.

 

[Cookie]

That happened to me once when I needed to get two wisdom teeth removed. The top one was fine, but after three shots on the bottom I could still feel the needle poke. They pulled the tooth anyway and it was brutal.

But that was the only time it didn't work.

 

[rudder]

Nitrous oxide FTW!

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: MrBond
The family dentist hates my Dad. Every time my Dad goes in there for something like that, he gives him a shot of Novocaine, then starts working right away before it takes effect.

I don't know why Dad keeps going there. I guess he's too stubborn to find a new dentist.

Why doesn't your Dad speak up and tell the Dentist he isn't numb?

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Cheetah8799
So I went to the dentist today to get a few cavities filled. Ya, I'm a bad boy... The dentist shot me up with the Novocaine, as usual, and the top tooth went fine. The bottom of my jaw wouldn't go numb though! So we tried a second, and even a third application of the Novocaine, but it really wasn't kicking in very much.

The dentist explained to me that he has heard that sometimes this happens to people. He even had some courses recently where they explained that after two or three applications, if it doesn't work, just re-schedule for another day. It's like whichever nerve needs to be numbed is just "stubborn" that day. He said he definitely was getting it in the right spot, apparently they go by feel to determine if it's sliding along the nerve or something, but it just wouldn't numb up like it should.


So I'm curious, has anyone else here ever had this happen, or heard of it happening?

..ya. they got to hose me down till my ears are numb. otherwise I feel it all.

 

[Injury]

I hate novacaine, and I have refused it when getting fillings. It NEVER kicks in for me until 2 hours after I get it, then it lasts about 12-18 hours.

You get over the pain real fast. You just gotta slip away a bit.

Kinda like a "hurts so bad it doesn't hurt" sort of thing.


This is all about 25% of the reason I don't want to get my wisdom teeth out any time soon.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: rudder
Nitrous oxide FTW!

I'm going to ask for that next time I go (have to get a filling repaired.) How well does it work? How long until you can drive afterwards? (Do I need to get someone to drive me or will I be fine fast enough?)

 

[AgentUnknown]

You need novicaine or lidocaine after nitrous oxide. You can't just have NO. Nitrous is used a lot b/c the effects go away in minutes. So u can drive home right after. They give you 100% oxygen after, the feeling is good. But seriously, if you need NO for a simple filling, you are a big baby.

 

[FoBoT]

i have heard of that happening

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: AgentUnknown
You need novicaine or lidocaine after nitrous oxide. You can't just have NO. Nitrous is used a lot b/c the effects go away in minutes. So u can drive home right after. They give you 100% oxygen after, the feeling is good. But seriously, if you need NO for a simple filling, you are a big baby.

I am tired of having my entire face go numb for the whole day from multiple shots and still not having it work on the tooth they're trying to numb. I'm not a big baby, I've had dental work with no shots at all before and lived through it. I'm just looking for something that actually works without farking up my entire day.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: rudder
Nitrous oxide FTW!

I'm going to ask for that next time I go (have to get a filling repaired.) How well does it work? How long until you can drive afterwards? (Do I need to get someone to drive me or will I be fine fast enough?)

It doesn't really do anything about pain, it just makes it so you don't really mind so much

 

[darianandre]

It's happened to me before, but I didn't want to come back another day so I just dealt with the pain. I find that being half asleep really helps. Just lay back and try to relax.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Why doesn't your Dad speak up and tell the Dentist he isn't numb?

I wasn't kidding in my earlier post, the dentist really doesn't like my Dad. Dad's not one to say anything anyway, even if it would matter.

 

[Vic]

Sure it happens. When the dentist misses the nerve.

 

[Slikkster]

Novacaine not working as it should is a definite sign of POT abuse.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: Slikkster
Novacaine not working as it should is a definite sign of POT abuse.

:laugh: How's that work?

 

[imported_Devine]

I've had plenty of cavities unfortunately and every time I get work done no matter how much novacaine the dentist pumps in I still feel it. The first time I got 3 shots and then just lied to the doc and said I couldnt feel it. The second time I got 2 and lied again, ever since then I just take the one shot then grin and bare it. The way I see it I deserve it for not taking better care of my teeth but I do have really sensitive teeth so that might be why.