Almost Died

The swell on my cheek spread to my full neck this morning when I woke up. The antibiotic given by the GP didn't work.

I went for my dental appointment at NDC this morning. After the x-ray I was checked by the same dental officer. She gave me an anesthesia injection on my gum before removing my tooth nerve. As she was pulling out the injection needle, my head went almost blank and my heart rate shot up instantly to the extend I couldn't breathe. It's like someone trying to strangle me. I sat up from my lying position, gulping for air and blursting into tear. I told the dental officer I couldn't breathe but she said that was normal. I knew it wasn't normal as I had had anesthesia injection a number of times to know how it should be. She was panic and quickly asked the specialist next door to come over with the pulse rate machine.

Thank God my heart rate gradually went back to normal after about 5 ot 10 min. It was the first time I cried during a dental treatment, the first time I was being so traumatized, first time I felt I was about to die.

I cried not because I fear death but because I felt sad that I don't have a chance to say "goodbye" to those close to me.

I guess due to the dental officer's inexperience and was not guided by any specialist during the injection she injected incorrectly, resulting in vasoconstrictor effect.

Many patients will experience an increase in heart rate with the intraosseous injection of epinephrine-containing local anesthetics. This effect lasts about 2-3 minutes and is seen in approximately 60 percent-80 percent of individuals receiving the injection. 10-13 Patients should be informed of this effect to decrease their anxiety, should it happen. If the patient is sensitive to epinephrine or cardiovascularly compromised it may be a better choice to use 3 percent mepivacaine plain for the intraosseous injection. 3 percent mepivacaine plain has been shown to be effective when used as a supplemental intraosseous injection in teeth with irreversible pulpitis.14