Are you allergic to local anesthetics? Do you know if you’re allergic to local anesthetics? Before seeing a dentist in Nottingham, you might want to let them know or tell them you’re not sure.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to local anesthetics include one or more of the following: Skin reactions such as a rash, itching, hives or edema; asthma-like attacks when being put under, and in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock (difficulty breathing, swollen/tingling lips, drop in blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, flushed or discolored skin).
Local anesthetic cartridges contain two active ingredients: the anesthetic itself and epinephrine. Most people are not allergic to the anesthetic agent itself; although rare, they are more likely allergic to a preservative in the anesthetic solution.
Epinephrine in the solution contains preservatives. It’s impossible to be allergic to epinephrine (epinephrine is adrenaline). If you were allergic to it, you’d be long dead before you had teeth let alone see the dentist. If you have an allergy test and it shows you’re allergic to the preservative used, there are local anesthetics without epinephrine available.
If you have an adrenaline rush, you’ll have symptoms such as: a racing heart, uncontrollable shaking, cold sweats, and not be able to breath properly. But it’s highly unlikely the injection caused these symptoms because the amount of ‘epi’ used in the anesthetic is minimal. Being in a stressful situation such as having dental surgery can cause an adrenaline rush and you may end up with some of these symptoms.
When an adrenaline rush occurs, some of the ways to cope with it includes: Bring it up to your dentist, they will be extra cautious and gentle with you if they know you have such a fear; understanding the injection is not dangerous for you, just unpleasant, will help you cope with the fear; the dentist may offer you laughing gas as an alternative; or perhaps a ‘rescue remedy,’ a natural anti-anxiety is available at pharmacies or health food stores.