When in doubt, blog about the dentist

[zhie]

Seriously, don't tell my dentist, but he could like, take this gig on the road and make tons of money, he's that damn good.

Have I mentioned the massage chairs? They are just the best. I am very fond of them.

In the continuing saga of replacing all those weird silver fillings with natural colored ones, I was over at the dentist again this afternoon. This is like an every three weeks thing since November of last year or so. Anyhow, he hit me with quite a lot of novocaine again, and consequently, four hours later, I still can't feel my nose.

We did discuss from last time, and I guess I'm just really sensitive to the stuff, and while he's using a very very small dose, it's just totally goes through my system and works a little too well (need to remember this for any sort of anesthetic, I think, though I've been very lucky never to have any sort of surgery or anything to have to need any of that... oh, we're venturing into TMI territory... back again, then.)

So... entire left cheek numb, and nose, lips, bottom of eyelid, chin. Maybe I have really good circulation. I did realize something today, though... this seems to happen when I have a lot of caffeine before hand.

Googling... not much regarding the two together except in use with rats and bovines (probably not something I need to know about). But looking at their chemical makeups, they are both composed of the same four elements (this is when just about everyone except Anjulka runs off).

And here's something interesting:

Allergic reactions to procaine are usually not in response to procaine itself, but to PABA. About 1 in 3000 people have an atypical form of pseudocholinesterase, which does not hydrolyze ester anesthetics such as procaine, resulting in a prolonged period of high levels of the anesthetic in the blood and increased toxicity.

Not that I usually condone using Wikipedia for scholarly pursuits, but I'm just in the 'curiosity' stage, so I'm okay with it right now. So cross referencing, then:

Pseudocholinesterase deficiency may also affect local anesthetic selection in dental procedures. The enzyme plays an important role in the metabolism of ester-based local anesthetics, a deficiency lowers the margin of safety and increases the risk of systemic effects with this type of anesthetic. The selection of an amide-based solution is recommended in such patients.

Alright, well, enough on that. I need to go make some pudding (Mark went in today, too, but they didn't tell him until he was there that they were going to pull the tooth that has been basically falling apart in little pieces... I told him to check Friday, and they said no then, but... I think this was because he'd probably have been restless the whole weekend about it.)

Have I mentioned the chair massage thingie? Sorry... I kind of raved about it to the dentist, and he was genuinely pleased that I did as they had them put in two years ago and no one much says anything (this is also the type of place with cable TV in every room, adjustable to move it overhead so you can watch the whole time you're there if you want).

Alright... onto pudding...

Comments

[lalaith-raina.livejournal.com]

So I'm still trying to sound out "Pseudocholinesterase". I get pseudo and then kind of make a word-vomit-like sound. Wait wait, I think I just got it.

I wonder if that might be what happened with me, in some way, when I got my wisdom teeth pulled. And I didn't wake up when I was supposed to, and they were about to call an ambulance because I stayed out for a long time.

Anyway, that sounds like an awesome dentist. I like mine, but he isn't that awesome. But I've been going there since I was a baby and always have the same hygienist so it's kind of like a relative more than a doctor at this point.

[zhie.livejournal.com]

I've been through many, many dentists. Ever since I was five and knocked my front teeth in and had to have them pulled out (without anesthetic, stupid dentist), I've changed dentists pretty regularly.

After him was the one who would call my brother and I stupid and swear at us when my mother wasn't in the room.

Then there was the older guy who couldn't always remember why I was there. Not good when he's holding a drill.

Then, the impatient one.

Then, the one who lost his license for malpractice. (Which was really too bad -- I liked him!)

Now this guy... he's not allowed to retire. He answers my questions, he tells me what he's doing, and... massage chairs!!

Actually, he's also very, very patient and calm, and I think part of what's very good about the place is that his wife works there as well as his chief assistant, and they work well together. And, it's obvious that everyone working there enjoys working there because they joke around a lot and talk about going to movies together and stuff like that.

[chaotic-binky.livejournal.com]

Local anaesthetic never works in my gums and I pass out when it is injected. My dentist tried another type, suspecting I was reacting to an additive but it still did not work and I still passed out.

My previous dentist, who was very good, had a breakdown and stopped working. So I went to another instead and she was huge, rough and no nonsense. When I told her about my reaction she refused to treat me, sending me to the hospital instead. Saved me quite a bit of money!

[anjulka.livejournal.com]

All sorts of things going through my head.
1. Rats are very similar to humans physiologically. That's why they're used for a lot of studies - that an no one really cares about them.

2. I just had to look up more about pseudocholinesterase. It seems like someone who has a deficiency (why could I spell the enzyme right, but need spell check to fix deficiency) in that would also have problems with choline (an important nutrient in eggs, nuts, fish, etc). But it doesn't look like it.

3. Novocaine gives me nasty headaches.

4. I've been going to the same dentist in Cudahy now for quite a while. No massage chairs, though. I might have to complain about that when I'm there in 2-ish weeks.

[lissea.livejournal.com]

sounds like a great dentist, but That numb face feeling is awful. What always scares me is the fact that if the dentist goes to the wrong spot with that needle, the numbness can last a long time or be perminent.