Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 12/23/2009

Question
I have been having problems since I was a teen with local anaestic. As a child I had my teeth extracted under gas I was about 7 years old so wasn't awake for the proceedure, then years later as a teenager when i needed my last extraction to make space for a wisdom tooth I was injected and when he pulled the tooth I felt every bit of pain and never returned thinking he was a bad dentist. Then when I was in my late 20's I needed a wisdom tooth extracting He gave me 7 injections before i felt any numbness then as he pulled the tooth out i felt the pain all over again and went home shaking and feeling quite ill. Another time I had local I was having my marine coil fitted she gave me a local to ease the pain but when she fitted it i cried out in pain and nearly shot off the bed again i was severly shaking and had to go to bed when i got home. I am now distressed because I am being told this is in my head and that what i am saying doesn't exist therefor can't be true I really need to talk to someone about this before i go under general anaestic for 4 teeth to be pulled out I don't know where else to turn now because no one believes me.
Can you please help me or help me seek advice somewhere else.
Best regards
K O'Brien

Answer
Karen
There is a world of difference between local anaesthesia and general anaesthesia. For local anaesthesia to work the injection has to be made at the right place (next to the nerve) and be given time to work (this can take 5-10 minutes). Lots of people write to me with problems they have experienced at the dentist or at various doctors where the local hasn't worked. In fact dental and coil insertion would be high on the numbers who have issues.
You need to ask to speak to the anaesthetic department that will be looking after you - most people undergo a 'preoperative assessment' before they go for the procedure so you can highlight the issues there and ask to see someone before the op.
However the bottom line is that general anaesthesia is totally different from LA and it works. There are ways of looking after you to ensure that you are fully asleep and have no awareness/recollection of what happened. This is normal and very few people have ay problems.
I hope this helps
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson