Concussion from dental extraction?
 

Please help. I had a very difficult dental extraction 3 days ago. From the moment they sat me up in the chair I've been VERY dizzy. If I stay still I'm fine, but whenever I move my head, or change my position, even just rolling over in bed, the room spins. The extraction required a lot of "hammering". I will make an appt with an MD today, but thought I'd get some feedback.

Hi watrmellin,

It sounds like you may have an inner ear disorder or you had a vaso vagal episode. If you are prone to dizziness, lightheadedness or vertigo, .......... or you have inflammation in your sinuses or ear(s)....... or if you have TMJ problems....... the movement of the dental chair bringing you back and/or forward can cause an episode of dizziness/vertigo. This can last for several days, unfortunately. Depending on what the cause is, there may be some things you can do to help ease it up a little bit.

If it is sinuses and or ear related .... a non drowsy decongestant may be helpful but it is important to drink plenty of water because being dehydrated can also cause you to feel dizzy. Also, a saline (only) nasal spray will help reduce sinus/ear inflammation. Also drinking lots of water will rehydrate yourself.

Some people, I am one of them, have chronic inflammation in the inner ear. Mine is from a worn out condyle in my left TMJ. For people like myself, it is best to take a decongestant before a dental appointment to help reduce the pressure in the inner ear. AND the dentist puts the back of my chair down first and then I lay back into it. Doing these things prevents the sudden change in pressure in my ear and I don't get dizzy. I also take a homeopathic remedy by Arrowroot called Pre Dental beginning the day before my appt, the day of the appt and the day after. Without these things......I would not be a happy camper in the dental chair.

Also another thing that could have happened .... you were nervous going to the dentist to have the extraction and prior to the appointment you unknowingly held your breath alot or breathed very shallow breathes which could have triggered a hyperventillation attack. This is a very normal response and the side effects of this can last several days past the appointment. You also may have continued to breathe this way while in the dental chair. This irregular breathing causes a temporary lack of oxygen to your brain and you build up carbon dioxide instead. This imbalance triggers the dizziness. It is also known as vaso vagal response. If you google that phrase you will see just how common this is!

I know how uncomfortable this can be.....I've experienced it many times myself! I find that when I'm going to have something done that I am dreading, if I prepare myself ahead of time by being well hydrated, decongest, use homeopathy and focus on breathing calmly and deliberately .... I do ok. Of course when something unexpected happens and I don't get a chance to do all that..... I quickly become very still and focus on my breathing to calm me down and pop a few homeopathic remedies. It works most of the time :-))

I hope at least some of this has been helpful to you..... please let us know how you are feeling!

Bryanna