I have to have a tooth pulled next week. The local clinic doesn't have access to nitrous oxide, and the dentist I saw today didn't seem to understand RSD and the need for pain control. There are 2 oral surgeons in town, but one is an old Navy dentist, with all that implies, and the other has had a stroke, so an assistant is doing much of the work. Both my legs are affected by RSD, and now my torso (that happened after the pain pump was put in - it's been very helpful for my leg pain, but the surgery set off the torso pain) and I've really afraid of getting RSD in my jaw/face.

Do any of you have experience with having dental work done when RSD is active? The tooth just broke off at the gumline, and it needs to be dealt with, but my only other alternative is to drive 7 hours to a better dentist, and that's hard too.

AJ

I hope someone has suggestions for you,
could you send some info to the assistant so they can read about the best way to do this for you?

Maybe someone knows a few really good sites about dental & RSD???

We have a Dental forum also - might ask there for more info too.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum89.html

Thanks, Jo. I didn't find anything on the dental forum, but I haven't searched really carefully yet. I did talk to my doctors and they said that if the dentist uses enough novocain, it should be OK. I hope so. I also read that if the dentist uses more novocain at the end of the procedure, it should help too. I'm going to ask my dentist to do that. But first, I have to get my pump refill taken care of, since I don't want to make a 2 day trip with an aching jaw.

AJ

Hi AJ,
My name is Loretta and I also fear spread to the mouth area. I go to a dentist that researched RSD. I use Nitrous Oxide. He gives me antibiotics before the procedure. I do not use effernefrin(spelling) as I had a heart reation to it. The purpose of the drug is to make the novocain last longer. You might find some info on rsdrx.com under puzzles. I know it may not be easy, but I would try to find a dentist with experience, and ask a friend to drive you? I have full body rsd for 14 years. started the following day after surgery. Hope the best to you. Do lots of research. soft hugs loretta jewell

I believe there is some info on RSDHope.org and the RSDSA website- I think to sum it up is the dentist should go slow and use lots of novacain (like you said) Check out those sites

Debbie