“Fear of local anaesthetic allergy ”
I am at the dentist next week to get 4 fillings. I have suddenly become extremely paranoid and worried about becoming allergic to local anaesthetic or even at worst having an anaphylactic reaction to it. I have had local anaesthetic twice and never had a problem but for some reason I have got it in my head I will become deadly allergic how likely is this to happen please could you give me odds of it happening if possible thank you
Female | 26 years old
Complaint duration: 30
Medications: Inhalers
Conditions: Asthmatic
15 Answers
FIRST, RELAX. IN THE PAST, NOVOCAINE was used. Today there are many local anesthetics that have been developed. The problem that some people had with the novocaine was with the preservative that was placed in it. When novocaine was developed, it was tested with all the tests available at that time. Science has advanced so far that anesthetics are placed through actual testing and computer generated situations. When you are given a local anesthetic, you are being monitored by your doctor and the staff. From the information you added, you may want to talk to your doctor before the procedure starts.
If you had it before and no problems then you shouldn’t worry about it. But your dentist will know your situation better.
Allergies to local anesthetics are extremely rare and when the do occur, they are usually related to the preservative rather than to the anesthetic itself. For those people there is carbocaine which has no preservatives and no other additives. Unfortunately the numbing effect only lasts 30-60 minutes; so find a fast dentist if that is the route you take.
Hi, no worries. If you have had local anesthesia in the past without an allergic reaction, it is very very unlikely you will have one.
The odds of having a true allergic reaction to modern local anesthetics is extremely rare. I would not worry about it. In the highly unlikely event that it did occur, your dentist should be fully able to treat it.
Close to zero risk.
This is extremely uncommon. If you have used it before and had no adverse effects you have nothing to worry about. Anesthetic often contain epinephrine which can make it feel as if something is going on when it isn’t. Dentist should have Benadryl in their office to prevent anaphylaxis if needed. I would voice your concern with your dental professional, however, I feel that you have nothing to worry about here.
The odds of developing an actual allergy to local anesthetic is minute to impossible. Don't worry.
With the type of local anesthetics we use today, and allergic reaction (much less an anaphylactic one) would be extremely rare. I have not had a patient in over 20 years with a true allergic reaction to these types of local.
It's usually a combination of the epinephrine or vasoconstrictor the anesthetic contains, there are two kinds Esters and amides. Once your dentist takes your history and determines that you may have a hypersensitivity he will select the anesthetic that has the most non reactive ingredients to assure your comfort and yet extend through the length of the procedure he intends to do. Anaphylactic reactions to dental anesthesia are usually best prevented by a proper history and this helps to Ally fear and anxiety during the course of the visit and thereafter when recovering. Good communication skills are important between you and your dentist
Allergic reaction to local anesthetic was seen decades ago, but since then the formula was changed removing the culprit agent. We rarely see an allergic reaction these days. But do bring your inhaler in case you get nervous. You could also go for allergy testing. But it seems that you would be fine, especially since you have already had freezing with no issues.
Thanks
Thanks
No very likely to happen. There's really nothing that's going to increase these odds either. In reality, very few people are allergic to the anesthetic itself; it's usually the additive in preparation that can cause an allergic reaction. Don't worry, your dentist should be equipped to handle an allergic reaction should it happen.
The odds are pretty low. You could consult an allergist to test you for anesthetic allergies. If you felt, during your previous dental visits, that your heart was racing, request that the dentist use an anesthetic that does not have epinephrine (adrenaline) in it.
Good luck, you should be fine,
Mark Johnson
Good luck, you should be fine,
Mark Johnson
It's rare to be truly deathly allergic to local snide anesthetics like lidocaine.
If you have never had a detrimental response to local anesthetic, chances are VERY slim that one would ever occur. Some patients get a faster heart rate IF epinephrine gets into the bloodstream directly. Talk about your concerns, but they sound as if fabricated by yourself for whatever the reason.
