Please advise Toothsmith Or anyone in the know

[suki1964]

I had a nerve taken out of UR2 yesterday. Now my dentist had terrible trouble numbing me enough to go near the tooth (always a huge problem and the reason for my dental fear) and by the time it was numbed enough, so was my nose and the area around my eye (usually happens I need that many injections)

What im a tad concerned about is that now the numbness has worn off, my right nostril wont stop running and I have a constant tingle like I need to sneeze all the time.

This is 48 hrs after treatment now, should I be worried or do you think this is common and will ease up? I have to go serve in a bar tonight and Im dreading dripping everywhere. Do you think something like sudafed would be fine to take and I just wait for the the situation to improve?

[Toothsmith]

This is really weird Suki.

I hadn't ever heard of anything like this until a patient of mine came in yesterday complaining of exactly the same reaction!!!!

She only needed half a cartridge of anaesthetic though, but in pretty much exactly the same area.

My best guess with her, after thinking about it, was that it's because the anaesthetic is a mildly acidic solution (It needs to be in order for the chemistry to work for it to be able to cross cell membranes).

I thought that if it's injected close to the (very sensitive) lining of the nose, then this acidity could possibly irritate the lining of the nose in that area, and start this runny nose off. Like if the acidic bubbles of a fizzy drink come down your nose.

It had already stopped for my patient, and I'm sure it will soon calm down for you, but that's my best guess as to what's happened. If any other medics/dentists want to have a go at explaining it, then I'm all ears!