Expert: Howard Finnk, D.D.S., P.A., CEO - 4/18/2007

Question
Dr. Finnk,
Yesterday, April 16, 2007, I went to my dentist to have two pinhead sized
cavities filled.  My dentist injected Novocaine into my left cheek, however
during the injection i felt this horrible, yet quick sharp, piercing pain shoot up
my brain and to my eye socket and cheek bone, but I just figured it was
normal.  Then he injected my right cheek and i didn't feel that pain on that
side.  He then left the room to let the anesthesia take into effect.  My right
side didn't take, so i have to get injected again.

After the fillings were completed, i told the dentist that my left side was
throbbing, but he just told me it was normal.  I then carried on and drove
home, etc.  My procedure with injections and all was at about 2:15-2:30.  As
the afternoon and evening progressed, I felt like all the bones in my face just
HURT, and I had a headache that got increasingly worse and i couldn't sleep
because my headache turned into a migraine.  Also, my lower left lip and chin
are still numb, and it's Tuesday nite at 10:20 pm.  I feel discomfort in my left
cheek bone, my left eye socket at times, and my head still hurts off and on.  I
can barely open my mouth wide enough to even eat with a spoon, and I can't
really talk very much because the left side of my face and my head start to
hurt.  I also have discomfort and throbbing on the left side inside my mouth
where the jaw comes together, or at least that's where it feels like the pain
and discomfort is.  
My fear is that the dentist might have hit a nerve on the left side, which is
why i felt that piercing pain during the injection on my left cheek, and if that's
also why i'm still numb on my left lower lip and chin, plus the headaches and
the discomfort to talk and eat.  I spoke to him today and he told me that it
might take up to 3 days to fully get out of my system, and to take advil and
stay on a soft foods diet.  However, i've had Novocaine before, and this has
NEVER happened to me.  The previous times i've had Novocaine by other
dentists, the effects of the medication wore off within a few hours, but this is
very uncomfortable.  Can you please tell me what I should do, if I should wait
a few days or do you think by what I've described I could have nerve damage
from that injection?

Answer
Dear Anne:  It's probably been a few days by the time you read this.  I'm hoping that you are beginning to recapture your feelings in these areas again.  It is likely that your dentist did hit a nerve (the areas you describe are supplied by the "trigeminal" nerve).  If there is any damage, it will likely repair itself.  Healing takes from several days to several months.  If you are not beginning to feel better after a few days, contact your dentist again.  These things do happen occassionally, and complete healing almost always occurs within a few weeks.  Let me know how this turns out.   dd