Re: Numb Tongue

NOYB wrote:
<nicklang907@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1164125633.222196.163080@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello,

I went to the dentist to have a filling inserted... when the dentist
put the needle in on the right lower side of my mouth, I felt a very
strong 'tingle' or electric jolt in my tongue (and I let the dentist
know about it at the time) as though he had hit the nerve. The
procedure continued, and after the anesthetic wore off, it felt as
though my tongue is permanently burnt (numb on top, but motion of the
tongue is ok).

Is this normal? It has been several weeks now and my tongue is getting
better, but still numb on the right side (the side of the needle). I'm
hoping this is not permanent.

One more thing... the dentist did something that he called a 'trick' to
help the anesthetic become distributed into my mouth area... he
inserted the needle and started to slightly wiggle it and my jaw
around. I could feel the tingling the whole time. I am worried that
this is not a standard procedure and perhaps for good reason: if you're
on the nerve, the wiggling could continue to sever that nerve. In
other words, if he had just inserted the needle, perhaps the damage
would not be so bad.



Here's an experiment for you to try at home:

Boil a spaghetti noodle for one to two minutes. Take it out, hold it by one end, letting the rest hang down.

Take a small push-pin and try to stab the free-hanging end of the noodle with the pin.

No try to "cut" the noodle with the pin.

I bet you can't do it.

That anesthetic needle isn't going to cut the nerve.




The only problem with this analogy is that there is no "free hanging" end to the lingual nerve, though I agree it is not rigidly fixed in the tissue. Nerve damage to the lingual nerve during IAN block is uncommon, but as you know it does occur on occasion.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Numb Tongue
    ... though my tongue is permanently burnt (numb on top, ... but still numb on the right side (the side of the needle). ... on the nerve, the wiggling could continue to sever that nerve. ... Boil a spaghetti noodle for one to two minutes. ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)
  • Re: Numb Tongue
    ... though my tongue is permanently burnt (numb on top, ... but still numb on the right side (the side of the needle). ... on the nerve, the wiggling could continue to sever that nerve. ... Boil a spaghetti noodle for one to two minutes. ...
    (sci.med.dentistry)
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