unable to get numb

[patient]

Can anyone explain why I have suddenly been unable to get numb for root canal? I can get numb for an ordinary filling but a few years ago I had a root canal and it was fine but a few years on from that time I needed another one and I could not get numb for the deeper drilling so we had to abandon it and give the tooth an ordinary filing which was ok. It would seem that the deeper drilling hurts because the nerve endings that far down are still alive. It is not the fault of the dentist because it has happened with two different dental practices so it must be me and my nerves. My last dentist said if I ever need root canal again they would send me to a specialist but I do not think that will make any difference. I am not nervous about having root canal but I am nervous that it will hurt because my nerves cannot get numb enough. Years ago I had root canal and did not feel a thing and that is how it should be. The only uncomfortable thing about it was jaw ache because you have to keep your mouth open for so long

 

[MountainMama]

I have always had difficulty getting numb, even for fillings. When I needed my first root canal, I was petrified, as I was sure they wouldn't be able to numb me. I went to a specialist, and they used a different, longer lasting anesthetic, and the endodontist suggested nitrous oxide to help me relax, as being nervous makes your heart race, which pumps the anesthetic out quicker. She also gave me more than usual, and in some different places. Apparently my nerve branches are not in the "usual" places, so it gets tricky for numbing. (That is what she told me).

Even at the oral surgeon, when I was getting am implant post put in on my lower jaw, he did the heavy duty nerve block. I felt completely numb, but when he started cutting, all of sudden at one point, I could feel a pinching sensation, very unpleasant, like biting your tongue. He stopped and gave another shot in a different place and it was completely numb after that.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Can anyone explain why I have suddenly been unable to get numb for root canal? I can get numb for an ordinary filling but a few years ago I had a root canal and it was fine but a few years on from that time I needed another one and I could not get numb for the deeper drilling so we had to abandon it and give the tooth an ordinary filing which was ok. It would seem that the deeper drilling hurts because the nerve endings that far down are still alive. It is not the fault of the dentist because it has happened with two different dental practices so it must be me and my nerves. My last dentist said if I ever need root canal again they would send me to a specialist but I do not think that will make any difference. I am not nervous about having root canal but I am nervous that it will hurt because my nerves cannot get numb enough. Years ago I had root canal and did not feel a thing and that is how it should be. The only uncomfortable thing about it was jaw ache because you have to keep your mouth open for so long

Hi,

Was it a lower back molar which did not get numbed?

 

[patient]

no an upper tooth in middle

 

[Enarete]

There must be a possibility to get you properly numb for any procedure. Once the right anesthetics in the right amount gets in touch with the nerves at the right spot, the pain gets shut off. Here is an article that explains possible reasons and solutions for not being able to get completely numb. There are special techniques that can be used on people who are hard to get numb so that might be why a specialist might help.