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By "freezing", I assume you mean the use of a local anesthetic drug to block pain sensations caused by dental treatment. Local anesthetics are among the safest of all drugs used in both dentistry and medicine. The local anesthetics we use today have been used since the late 1950's and have an excellent record of safety. It is necessary to add other drugs to the local anesthetic solutions in order to give them a longer duration of "freezing." The other drugs include epinephrine (Adrenalin) and levonordefrin (NeoCobefrin). These drugs are known to reduce blood flow at the site of injection so that the local anesthetic has time to be more effective in producing local anesthesia. Adrenalin has been used since the turn of the century and NeoCobefrin since the 1940's. Thus, both drugs have a long history of use and are quite safe in the concentrations used in local anesthetic solutions.
However, no matter what the experience, all drugs have side effects or undesirable effects even when proven to be safe and effective. Drug side effects just go with the territory as do bumps and bruises from athletics. Dentists are very careful to limit the amount of "freezing" drugs given to each patient and use care to avoid injecting drugs into the vascular system (vein or artery). But no matter how hard we try to avoid side effects, they do occur. The most common reaction is one that you have experienced. Vasoconstrictors are taken up quickly into the blood stream and cause an effect like getting a rush of Adrenalin. As a result patients can experience anxiety, nervousness, palpitation (feel their heart beating faster) and other effects. The immediate effect is short lived, but sometimes they can may you feel uneasy for a period of time even though the vasoconstrictor disappears from the body is a few minutes. Local anesthetics will remain in the body for 3 to 6 hours as they undergo metabolism and excretion from the body. Local anesthetic reactions are rare but usually take the form of depression (feeling drowsy) or excitement. These reactions are also transient and tend to pass quickly.
Today, it is possible to have your mouth "frozen" using a local anesthetic solution without vasoconstrictor. However, the duration of the "freezing" effect will be shorter and repeated injections may be required depending on the length of the dental procedure. And just because you had this reaction one time does not mean you will experience the same feelings again. Also, dentist can use sedative or antianxiety medications to help you deal with any of these reactions or with the fear of having the reaction again. You should discuss your feelings and response with you dentist no matter what they may be. This will guide your dentist in selecting the safest and most efficient method for managing your dental appointments.
Tommy W. Gage, DDS, PhD
Professor, Vice Chairman
Dept. of Oral Surgery & Pharmacology
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