Dental Concerns
 

I need to go to the dentist because I think I have a cavity and I am afraid. Can anyone give me advice?

I am afraid because my MG symptoms started shortly after having some work done on my teeth. Can the anasthesia cause MG or MG symptoms? I really don't want to risk having my MG get worse, but I need to go to the dentist...

I am going to switch dentists, because to be honest, I felt like the dentist gave me way to much anasthesia, I had lots of strange feelings during and after I received the anasthesia that I had never had before. Every time I start looking up a new dentist I start getting stressed and realize I need some information so I feel safe.

I'd like to hear of anyones experience with anasthesia with MG. This will be my first dentist apointment after getting MG.

Thank you.

Susan, Do you mean anesthesia as in being knocked out for dental? If you are having that done, it should be in a hospital setting!

My dentist uses Lidocaine. I do okay on that but I know that my MG will get worse for a few days afterwards. I have trouble with my bulbar muscles and breathing. I also shake like crazy from the epinephrine but counteract that with drinking a little juice (glucose counteracts adrenaline). They could try to give you the least amount of lidocaine as possible.

One time after dental, I did wake up choking, which is always scary. If you can have it done in the morning, that's great. They can also "hold" your mouth open for you with those little devices they have so your muscles don't have to do so much work. Trying to relax the muscles during dental, especially when you hate having it done like I do, is almost impossible.

I'm lucky to have such a good dentist. Super nice.

You might need a little more Mestinon in the days following the dental appt. Or rest more or put cold washcloths on those jaw/neck muscles. Or use a humidifier in your bedroom, which helps me.

I'm sure others have some good ideas too. I hope it goes well!

Annie

Lidocaine is on the warning list of meds for MG. I don't know if it is mild/moderate/majorly contraindicated though. Its use may be the reason for your issue since it is the main drug used at the dentist....

You should talk to your neurologist about this...debra

Well, Debra, I'm not sure if your comment was for me or Susan but I have to use something for pain! ;) I accept the consequences of my using lidocaine and was only relaying my own experiences with it. And my neuro could care less what I use during dental so I won't be telling him. Oy.

A few years before I was diagnosed I was put out for bigger proceedure. It affected my ability to walk much longer than felt normal. But when my eye surgeon did my cataract in January and knew of my MG he did a great job of litely putting me under and getting it done.

I am trying to get oral surgery done now tho that has dragged on because 2 of the sugeons refused to do it. The first one saw my oxygen at 96 and asked why and I said it was from talking more. She said bad sign she wouldnt do it. The first other oral surgeon she referred me to was gonna do it but when I questioned whether I needed the antibiotic he was gonna give me as I was told there was no infection he said he was out and I needed to go clear to the univerisity where my neuro is.

I tried the last oral surg office in town and the young doc there said yes. But it became stalled when my neuro would prescibe prostigmine or mestinon injection. I cant take mestinon after fasting before the surgery. I will have to take another run at her about this and hope for the best (my neuro....but then I may be with another neuro by then).

I think if you find someone nice and understanding like my eye surgeon it can go really well.

Annie59

Annie, you talked about choking after waking up. I was just diagnosed 3 months ago. For the last 3 times I visited the dentist, which the time limit was at least 1 1/2 years, when they laid me back in the chair, I felt like I was going to choke to death. I felt like my tongue was covering my windpipe and I began to hyperventilate. I had them to lift me up one time. Is this kinda what you felt. They have to give me a double dose of Lidocaine and the gas, because my fear of the dentist and sensitivity. Should I mentioned to my dentist about MG. busybusy

Here's a good link on this.

http://www.mgawpa.org/pdfs/Medical/D...20and%20MG.pdf

I think I also remember something in the MDA MG Handbook for Practitioners. Had to do with the medications. I believe procaine was recommended as the best local anesthetic choice (but I'm not for sure).

Thank you. This was very interesting and eye opening. I know feel better to have some knowledge to discuss without sounding crazy with my dentist. He is wonderful. Thank you again. busybusy

Annie, I only mean the local anasthesia and I couldn't remember the name of what dentists use. Thanks for the great advice! Makes me feel a little better about going to the dentist.:)

I've got a wonderful dentist, who when I said I had MG went and looked up all the drugs I couldn't have to make sure everything was safe for me. She even uses a chock to help me keep my mouth open and is constantly asking if I'm alright...................
I've never had any problems, apart from uncaring Dentists who just didn't get my problems, I'll stick with my wonderful understanding Dentist...

Oh yes busybusy it is your best bet to tell the dentist that you have MG so they can bail if they feel it is out of their league. I so so hate dental work too and if it takes extra work which it is now it is worth it in the long run.

I had this REAL arrogant eye doc who was gonna do my cataract first. Added to it his nurse I always got when I called in would consistantly minimise what ever I called about. This even applied to my cataract. I called and he would see me for 3 weeks tho I said it was getting worse fast. I said I needed to be seen so they gave me an older guy I could see right away. He examed me and when I said the vision was worse in left eye he put my chart in front of my face and said see it has always been this way.

I knew it was a cataract by what it was like visually so I pushed on going to an urgent clinic on the weekend and that regular doc said he sawa a cataract! He said I should be seen and set appointment at the univeristy. The university doc said oh yeh its a big one. I went back to the other doc locally to be near home for the surgery. When I saw him he said by golly it was a cataract:mad:.

But the more I thought about it that he never had time to see me when I had ocular problems and his nurse was this way I decided that was a bad situation to go thru surgery with. Several months later I asked another doc and was told about the guy who did my left eye. He is the sweetest doc next to my pulmo. Tho this fella optho I saw today about the MG is sure a totally smart and excellent guy. They are out there. Its just too bad they are hard to find.