If you've ever had a dental procedure done then most likely your dentist used Novocaine during the procedure. Novocaine is a local anesthetic that was once commonly used during dental procedures across the country. Currently, most dentists use a drug called lidocaine, which is similar to Novocaine but has less complications. This anesthetic is injected prior to certain dental procedures to block nerves and numb mouth tissue to dull the pain felt during the procedure.
While serious injuries for lidocaine or local anesthetics are rare, they still occur every day across the US. Some of these complications may include, but are not limited to:
- An allergic reaction which may disrupt breathing or even cause death
- Irregular heartbeats or other cardiac issues
- Ongoing numbness &/or tingling
- Dizziness
- Tremors