home > common fears > fear of feeling numb
Fear of Feeling Numb
Some people are scared of the numbness associated with local anaesthetic. The numbness may make you feel as if you're going to choke or suffocate. Or the numbness may feel to you as if your throat is swelling "shut" and you will no longer be able to breathe.
For example, you may have a history of asthma, throat problems, a near-drowning incident, or panic attacks, and associate the feeling of tingling and numbness with not being able to breathe.
Even if you don't have a history of such problems, it could be speculated that some people may be genetically predisposed to interpret numbness as a threat. Numbness is a very common symptom of poisoning. If your body interprets numbness as an effect of having been poisoned (even though your "rational" mind is perfectly aware that's not the case), this could easily produce a panic reaction in response to the "threat" your body perceives.
Being aware that the feelings of panic originate in very "primitive", life-preserving parts of your brain might help you override the feelings of fear and panic you experience with the more "rational" parts of your brain.
Below are some commonly asked questions about the fear of feeling numb, and the answers given by dentists on our message board.
Commonly Asked Questions:
"I'm not afraid of the needle, it's the numbing sensation that comes afterward that gives me the creeps. I suffer from panic attacks and get really nervous when I see the doctor preparing the syringe. I never had that injection that numbs your teeth on the lower side of your jaw and it terrifies me. Can somebody calm me down about it? I heard stories from friends telling me you won't feel your tongue and part of your throat and it makes me sleepless. I'm always afraid I might choke, or suffocate, or I don't know what. Is it really true that a large of your mouth lose sensitivity? Will I be able to swallow? Is it really that different from upper teeth numbing shot?"
"Hi, I have a few patients who describe the same problem. They are not afraid of having the injection, they just hate the way it feels. If you are that worried about it to the extent that it gives you panic attacks, no wonder you feel so terrible! But you can feel better about this.
To give you a bit more information about it: The upper jaw is more poreous (sponge like) meaning that when anaesthetic is injected next to a tooth, it can get through to the root, making the tooth go numb. The lower jaw is denser and an injection next to the tooth is often not enough on its own to make that tooth numb enough for dental procedures. Therefore the main nerve which supples sensation to that half of the jaw is frozen to make sure that the procedure is as painless as possible. Sure - your tongue may feel numb on the side of the injection, and your lip too. This is because the Inferior Dental Nerve and Lingual Nerve become frozen. However all that is frozen are nerves which transmit sensation and feeling. Nerves which allow movement eg swallowing, are not affected. You WILL be able to swallow, and you will NOT choke or suffocate. It is not really that different a feeling to the upper teeth being numb - just in a different place.
Most people say that the feeling of numbness for an hour or two is unpleasant. However, as you conquer your fear and your negative feelings you will be pleasantly surprised after your lower jaw injection and you will wear that numb feeling like a medal, feeling proud and happy with yourself for your achievement and success."
"I went to the dentist the other week to have some fillings. I was surprised at how easily I coped with the injections. But then, my tongue became numb and soon I began to feel like I may not be able to swallow and that my throat may close up. I had my very first anxiety attack and it was soooo scarey! Now, I will have to go back because I left with a numb mouth before any work could get done. I'm terrified of going back, because I fear that my tongue will swell, causing my throat to close up, leaving me unable to breathe. Any advice??"
"It's normal that half the tongue may go numb when a nerve block in the lower jaw is given (either on the left or on the right side, depending on which side the nerve block is given). If you're not used to the sensation, it may feel "swollen" (just like when you sit or lie in a position where the blood supply to an arm or leg gets cut off and you get the numb feeling, the arm or leg may also feel swollen. It sounds like you panicked because you didn't expect the "swollen" feeling. It's very easy to mistake the numbness for swelling. You WILL be able to breathe (as you found out - otherwise you wouldn't be writing this now :-))."
"Does this mean that my throat cannot close up at all due to my tongue being numb?"
"No, your throat can't close up - all normal function of the muscles of the throat remain. Very occasionally the throat just feels really numb. You will still be able to swallow, breathe, and all appropriate gag responses to foreign objects will remain to prevent you choking. Remember that even if the throat does feel numb, the numbness will only ever be on half the throat and half the tongue anyway, the other side isn't affected at all as the injection only works on the side it is given. Having a local anaesthetic will not close the airway/throat, or prevent it from closing. Also - the tongue does not swell at all when numb - just FEELS that way!! Only thing that would make it swell would be anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) and that is VERY VERY VERY rare. Again we have emergency drugs to use in the rare event that that may happen. So the tongue swelling isn't an issue with a block injection, it won't happen."
"If my throat did close up, would the dentist know what to do or have something that would open it back up?"
"We do have emergency equipment which can get the airway open, but this is for real emergencies like if someone has a heart attack or something (nb heart attacks happen at the dentist the same as they can happen anywhere, a trip to the dentist doesn't cause it!!!). So yes, we can open the throat/airway if need be, but I have never had to do it."
"I've suffered with asthma and other throat problems all of my life and I associate the feeling of tingling and numbness with not being able to breathe. I had local anesthetic last week, and as soon as the topical dripped and went down into my throat, I panicked. I jumped from the chair and was convinced my throat was swelling. After a few minutes I was able to calm down because it started to wear off. Why did this happen and could this have been avoided?"
"Sometimes the topical gel, or fluid from the cartridge (a drop or two of the solution can come out as the dentist is preparing to give the injection) - when swallowed can make the throat feel numb. It does also rarely happen sometimes after a standard lower 'block' injection. It is important to remember that when this happens - it is a sensory problem only. This means that although you may hate the feeling, and as much as it has 'freaked you out' in the past - you CAN breath and swallow normally. Swallowing especially feels odd as although you can still do it - you can't feel that you're doing it.
Ask the dentist to use a minimal amount or no topical anaesthetic and ensure that they do not 'dribble' any solution into your mouth (you will know if this happens as it tastes horrible!)."
"My dentist has also told me he is numbing the entire lower jaw next week. I asked if this will make my tongue and throat numb and he has said yes. I am so panicked already that I am literally sleepless and nauseous and shaking... Can he just numb a single tooth at a time or what else could be done???"
"Rarely, after a standard lower 'block' injection, your throat may feel numb. Although it is less effective - you could ask the dentist to use an 'infiltration' technique rather than a 'block' - perhaps giving 2 or more cartridges, and infiltrating on the buccal (cheek) side and lingual (tongue) side of the tooth to be filled. This would make it even less likely for any numb sensation as far back as the throat."
"It can be possible to just numb the individual tooth in the lower arch. The dentist needs to use either a system called X-tip, or a system called Stabident (I know such a bad name!) or an intraligamental anaesthetic device like a peripress or Wand. To be honest, you sound to me like a great candidate for IV sedation, it would make things much easier for you."