Dental treatment and local anaesthetic - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Dental treatment and local anaesthetic

dizzielizzie1 profile image
31 Replies

Hi guys--I'm going to have a root canal filling next week. I've read that people with PAF should have a local anaesthetic which doesn't contain any type of adrenalin as this can bring on A Fib. Anyone have experience with this?? My GP couldn't give me an answer and told me just to discuss it with the dentist.

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dizzielizzie1
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31 Replies

Yes do ask your dentist for an adrenaline free injection!

I've had a lot of dental work over past couple of years including root canal s and this works well. Many years ago my injection was not adrenaline free and set me off into a very fast rate . Lesson learnt !

Sandra

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply to

Thank you Yatsura. Have a bout of Afib at the moment and I'm sure it's due in part to being concerned about my dental treatment. I have emailed the dental surgery and asked them to make sure that the endontologist will use an adrenalin free local anaesthetic.

Deb-A profile image
Deb-A

I would discuss with your cardiologist not GP. The adrenaline is used to help control bleeding . Now if it's just a filling then risk of bleeding should be

Having pain control is the issue and they can block you without it .

Good luck

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toDeb-A

Thanks Deb-A---I don't have a cardiologist, but am going to trust that the dentist knows what she's is doing.

etheral profile image
etheral in reply todizzielizzie1

Big mistake. If you are dealing with a fib you need to be conculting a cardiologist for evaluation and elucidation of best treatment options.

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toetheral

Hi etheral- Thank you for your reply. -I have never had any contact with a cardiologist in the four years since I was diagnosed with Afib. so unfortunately there's no one I can just ring up to ask about this. I consulted my GP who said I should discuss it with my dentist. I have looked at some very reputable medical sites and the information was that A fib patients are better off having a local anaesthetic without adrenalin.

etheral profile image
etheral in reply todizzielizzie1

Certainly true. Without adrenaline is safer. If possible you should have a consultation regarding risks and benefits of trying to convert to Normal Sinus Rythym and stroke susceptibility and prevention options.

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toetheral

hello etheral--My GP advised me to take an anticoagulant last year, which I am now doing. Am going to request a referral to see a cardiologist/electrophysiologist to discuss my AFib.

sweetiepye profile image
sweetiepye

When I told my Dentist I had Afib he knew what to use. I don't know what it's called but it is adrenalin free and works well. When I had my last ablation they used adrenalin to put me into Afib so they could find the right areas to ablate so it is defiantly a trigger. By the way I take Eliquis and have had some teeth removed without a problem. Pam

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply tosweetiepye

Thanks for the info. I am having an implant in January, so good to know that you didn't bleed after the extractions.

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply tosweetiepye

Thank you, got a tooth that needs filling,and just gone onto Flecanaide and Apixaban ( elequis) this week

Now,I know what to say to dentist! I was a bit concerned.

Annaelizabeth profile image
Annaelizabeth

Yes to using the anaesthetic with no adrenalin for dental work. There are the options available, just ask your dentist. Be warned, the efficacy of non-adrenalin injections is less than the adrenalin based, meaning that the numbness wears of relatively quickly, so you may find yourself a pin cushion if you are having work done which is longer than the average filling!

fallingtopieces profile image
fallingtopieces in reply toAnnaelizabeth

The numbness from my Adrenalin free injection for root canal last year, lasted 5 hours!

It was a top back tooth and I was numb right up to my eye.

I was actually more numb for longer than I’d ever been before.

Pat

resqme1065 profile image
resqme1065 in reply tofallingtopieces

it wears of quicker than the adrenaline. I have had multiple injections bc I could feel pain coming on. I've been using it since 1985 when having dental work because it makes me too jittery.

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toresqme1065

Thanks resqme--I requested an adrenalin free local anaesthetic on Friday by email and rang the dental surgery this morning. They have made a note of it on my records and passed the info onto the endontologist. Fingers crossed all goes well.

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply tofallingtopieces

That's where mine is,so I shall he aware now,thanks again!

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toAnnaelizabeth

Thanks for your reply-- I have emailed the dentist and requested an adrenalin free injection. Hope it last for 2 hours!!!

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toAnnaelizabeth

I might have a dental block as well. Just don't want to feel any pain!!

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toAnnaelizabeth

Hi Annaelizabeth - I don't mind dental work as long as I don't feel any pain. Hope I DON'T end up as a pin cushion! All the responses to my qustion have indicated that I should have an adrenalin free injection, so that is the way I will go.

Sarah57 profile image
Sarah57

Hi, yes,just had a tooth out and have had many bits of dental work using a non adrenalin anesthetic and it has worked well.

Sometimes you need a "top up"of injection as it can wear off slightly quicker and also it takes a little longer to take effect, but really not noticeable. A good dentist will know exactly what you need.

Hope all goes well

Sarah

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toSarah57

Hi Sarah- the dentist only does root canal fillings and has just finished her training to be an endontologist. She told me she had to do 200 complex root canal fillings as part of her training. Hopefully she will know what she is doing. However, I have emailed the surgery to say I would like an adrenalin free injection.

pottypete1 profile image
pottypete1

My dentist is on the ball and it was her who put a big note on my file MUST BE ADRENALINE FREE LOCAL ANAESTHETIC. She is very aware of my past AF.

I had an injection years ago with adrenaline it was into my jaw joint to numb the lower law and my heart rate went through the roof it was a most awful experience.

Pete

Kresta profile image
Kresta

Had a filling yesterday. I have persistent afib and have had bouts of psvt throughout my life. I asked for local anaesthetic with no adrenaline and the dentist obliged. The only thing that hurt was my wallet.

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toKresta

Thanks Kresta--with a privately done complex root canal( my NHS dentist wouldn't consider doing it) and new crown plus an implant--I would be embarrassed to say here how much I am spending. I have emailed the dentist doing the root canal to say that that I would like an adrenalin free injection.

Jay10 profile image
Jay10

My dentist used a Citenest (not sure if spelling is correct) injection when I had my crowns done as I had reacted to the usual adrenaline one.

Hope this helps, Jackie

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toJay10

Thanks Jay10-- I asked my GP about the adrenalin free injection and she had no idea really. Said if it was into my jaw then it probably wouldn't have much effect on the rest of my body and that I probably knew more about it than she did. Well, thanks to people on this forum responding to my post, I shall definitely be asking for an adrenalin free injection.

Davebe profile image
Davebe

I'm taking Pradaxa and have had 4 visits for root canal treatment followed by an extraction of a back tooth, at hospital on separate days, but had no trouble whatsoever. Just a little extra bleeding on the extraction and the expected discomfort. Besides that all was OK. Dave

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat

AF is not on the dentists list of complaints which require adrenaline free local anaesthetic. Both my dentist and a friend who is a dentist explained that to me. I've had several fillings with adrenaline and no ill effects and a couple more recently without also fine.

My only slight concern is that the adrenaline keeps the local ( be it lignocaine or similar) localised to the area injected. There are warnings with flecainide about avoiding lignocaine but I was assured the amount used for teeth will not affect flecainide ( I rang cardiologist re this).

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toBagrat

Thanks Bagrat-- I don't take flecainide but I might do in the future. Thanks for the info-very useful to know.

resqme1065 profile image
resqme1065

I am sure it will go well!

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1 in reply toresqme1065

Thanks resqme--trying not to think about the two hours in the chair.

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