Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 8/2/2007

Question
I HAD 2 ONLAYS DONE TODAY ON THE LEFT SIDE.  AFTER THE NOVACAINE WORE OFF, I HAD A SORE/RAW TONGUE ON THAT SIDE THAT ESPECIALLY HURT WHEN TALKING.  IT FEELS AS IF A LAYER OF SKIN HAS BEEN REMOVED AND IT FEELS ESPECIALLY DRY.  I HAVE GARGLED WITH SALT WATER SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.  ON ANOTHER NOTE, I HAVE A NEURALGIA OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SIDE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND TAKE NEURONTIN, TEGRETOL AND TOPAMAX WHICH ARE VERY EFFECTIVE AT CONTROLLING THE PAIN.  HOWEVER, I HOPE I AM NOT GOING TO GET IT ON THE LEFT SIDE NOW AS WELL.  COULD THIS PAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE BE FROM THIS APPLIANCE THE DENTIST PUTS IN TO KEEP MY MOUTH OPEN, FROM DRILLING TO REMOVE THE GLUE-IT WAS VERY DRY-OR FROM THE NOVACAINE SHOT SETTING ME UP FOR NERVE DAMAGE?  HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

Answer
Dear VAN HEEK,

I can't do much more than offer guesses as to why your tongue is sore; it could be anything from your dentist accidentally nicking your tongue with the drill, pulling off the surface tissue by pulling on an adherent cotton roll, burning the tissue from the chemical that may have been used to stop bleeding prior to taking the impression, or simply retracting the tongue too hard during the procedure. One thing that your soreness definitely is not is the beginning of neuralgia. The cause of neuralgia is not in the mouth, although it may feel like it is located there because it can effect the sensory nerve that supplies the mouth. However, the cause of neuralgia may be viral (as sometimes happens after a case of shingles as "post-herpetic neuralgia"), or sometimes due to pressure between the root of the sensory nerve in the brainstem and one of the nearby arteries. Neuralgia is not caused by local tissue injury in the mouth.

If the soreness is severe, you should contact your dentist so that he can assess the cause and perhaps provide assistance in managing the symptoms. Undoubtedly, time will bring a resolution of any soreness.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY