AF and the dentist

I have an appointment with the dentist tomorrow to have a tooth re-root canalled. The appointment is booked for an hour. This will be the first dental work to be carried out since I was diagnosed with PAF around 18 months ago. I told the dentist at that time that I have PAF and have reminded him a couple of times during check ups. He seemed unconcerned and didn’t really comment. I am not nervous about dentistry in general but have heard that it can be problematic for those with PAF. Has anyone had any AF problems when visiting the dentist? Do I need to remind him about anything, e.g anaesthetic? Also, I sometimes get palpitations when lying or reclining on my back for extended periods. General advice would be appreciated.

[Jalia]

Ask the dentist for an adrenaline free injection and ask for the dental chair to be raised as high as it can be to enable dentist to work efficiently.

If I have to have extended treatments such as yours I take a little radio with ear buds ....i find this a great distraction so I'm not thinking of the possibility of the heart misbehaving .

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Jalia]

Good advice- thanks! Do you know if dentists have to order in the adrenaline-free anaesthetic or do they always keep stocks of it?

[Jalia in reply to Hidden]

I would have thought that it would always be available. Many people need this.

[Hidden in reply to Jalia]

Thanks once again.

[Padayn01]

Can I just ask about your palpitations when you lie back? Cause I get exactly the same how long you been suffering with then for?

[Hidden in reply to Padayn01]

I notice that if I lie on my back for, say, 30-40 mins that there is a tendency to for ectopics, skipped beats etc. to occur. This happens from time to time rather than invariably. Of course, some people report similar things when they lie on their right or left sides.

[Padayn01 in reply to Hidden]

It really bugs me this, exactly the same thing happens to me it’s so bad that I don’t want to lie back on the sofa or even sit back on the sofa so I have to sit on the edge all the time so uncomfortable, do you know why this happens is there anything you do to make them better?

[Hidden in reply to Padayn01]

Well, it doesn’t happen all the time. I don’t really know of anything specific to prevent it other than changing the position. It tends to be worse after meals; it’s best to avoid large meals where possible.

[Padayn01 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that, yeah I avoid heavy meals and also eat as early as possible as my last meal of each day

[Camelia23 in reply to Padayn01]

Interesting you should say about Lying on back as when I had my first episode of 2 hours palpitations I had to have an ecg but the nurse told me to lie flat. She couldn't take it as my heart rate went to 120. Doctor came in and when I sat up my fitbit showed 65. He told her to try again but up it went. No one suggested I sit half way up. Instead I was sent home with 2.5mg bisoprolol and told to walk bact to medical practice in afternoon. This time it was fine and nothing showed up. On September 1st 2019 I was diagnosed in hospital with paf. Luckily I don't seem to have too much trouble Lying back on sofa as you do.

[Deadwoodmike]

You may want to ask the dentist for carbocaine instead of Novocaine, because novocaine has epinephrine in it. Epinephrine can increase your heart rate. Carbocaine doesn’t last as long. So if you’re like me and are afraid of dental pain, make sure you remind them not to let it wear off. And don’t be shy about having them sit you upright if the reclining starts to bother you. I think you’ll do fine. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Deadwoodmike]

Thanks for this information. I will request the carbocaine.

[100h]

I read somewhere recently you should wait 12 hours after taking your anticoagulants (if possible) before any dental procedures.

Good luck!!

[Hidden in reply to 100h]

I’m not on an anticoagulant, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

[100h in reply to Hidden]

Hope it all goes well.

[Hidden in reply to 100h]

Thanks!

[Hidden in reply to 100h]

This is just to update on the visit to the dentist (not because it is of great interest but more because there might be some information here for anyone who is in the same position).

The session didn’t cause any AF. The dentist said he had seen plenty of patients with AF and they hadn’t had any problems. He said that he would recline the dental chair slowly so as to avoid sudden changes in blood pressure. He said that it wasn’t possible to do the root canal work itself other than in a reclined position, but I could sit up when he was not actually doing any work. He didn’t comment when I mentioned the anaesthetic, but whatever he used was OK; I rang the BHF cardiac nurses and they said they hadn’t heard that this was a problem-anxiety was the main thing to avoid. I was able to take my pulse during the procedure and it was nice and steady. The dentist only drilled out one of three root canals and I have to repeat the procedure in a week or so, but I am now much more relaxed about it. The key seems to be to stay as calm as possible (not something I am particularly good at) and not recline for too long.

[BRHow]

I have AF and I had a flawless Root C. Not to long ago. No issues with taking my Xarelto either. As I work in medical, I throughly researched cutting edge RC technology. I found a Doc that does a root canal with this machine that costs 80k. He does it in 8 minutes and doesn’t use all those files. Hope your DDS uses the “GentleWave” machine. If not he probably does root canals the same way they have done for nearly 50 years.

[Hidden in reply to BRHow]

I haven’t had any discussion with him about how he will do the procedure. He’s re-root canalling ; I don’t know if that makes a difference.

[jaqshell]

I,ve just had implants , the doctor gave me diazipan to take on the day I was terrified but sailed through it ...they took 6 months to fit back and forth but worth it x good luck

[Dangerousdriver]

I had a lengthy root canal last weekend and I was admitted with AF into A&E the night before. The endodontist was unconcerned and I had adrenaline free anaesthetic. I think it’s mind over matter. I personally just stare up at the ceiling and drift off, some will not be able to and will be thinking of AF and what if, which in itself could cause a possible issue.

I think you’ll be fine to go ahead, remember it’s mind over matter.

[Hidden in reply to Dangerousdriver]

Thanks. I’ve had the first of three re-root canalling visits and there were no problems. I don’t know what anaesthetic the dentist used but it was effective and at the same time didn’t seem to produce the usual strong numbing sensation.

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

Yep. That's the one minus adrenaline (epinephrine) I had one hour thirty root canal 2 weeks ago and it was fine. He did give me three what felt like huge injections.

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

It’s much better than the usual one -I don’t know why they don’t use it all the time with everyone. I wasn’t even aware of any numbness by the end of the procedure. The bad news is that my temporary crown has fallen off and I have unwittingly swallowed it. Also the dentist is closed over the weekend.

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

Is there not an out of hours number?? What a nuisance. I think they don't use it all the time because the adrenaline does keep the local more local as it constricts blood vessels.

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

There isn’t an out of hours near where I live ( and it’s 2200 here). I’ve been advised that it’s ok to wait until 1000 tomorrow.

[Bagrat]

Hope you get sorted tomorrow.